Barcelona vs Real Madrid: The Battle for World Cup Winner Rodri Heats Up—Who Wants Him Most?

Barcelona could enter the race against fierce rivals Real Madrid to sign Rodri this summer, as the battle for the World Cup champion intensifies.

Rodri's value has soared after leading Spain to victory in North America this summer, taking home the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.

With only one year remaining on his deal at Manchester City, speculation surrounding the 30-year-old's future has grown, and many believe he could follow Pep Guardiola out the door at the club this summer.

Should he opt against signing the renewal offer on the table in England, Real Madrid are widely considered the frontrunners for his signature.

After reportedly ruling Rodri out as a serious target for a period, Madrid president Pérez has now given the go-ahead for a transfer, with both clubs in talks and the Spanish powerhouse prepared to pay in excess of €50 million ($57 million).

However, reports suggest Madrid may not be the only club pursuing Rodri, with Barcelona among those potentially in the running.

Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano has since revealed that City put negotiations with Madrid on hold as they wait to see whether other clubs, including Barça, come forward with offers.

"Manchester City decided not to close the deal with Real Madrid because they wanted to wait for more clubs to jump into the race for Rodri," Romano said on his YouTube channel on Tuesday.

"Manchester City have a feeling that also Barcelona could be interested in Rodri. The injury of Frenkie de Jong could open doors to this possibility."

Which Club Needs Rodri More?

Barcelona Looking for Short-Term Cover

Genuine interest from Barcelona would dramatically shift the transfer landscape and turn this into one of the most talked-about stories of the summer, with two of football's greatest rivals going head-to-head for one of the game's finest players.

Time will tell whether Barça are willing to throw their hat in the ring, but the case for doing so from a squad standpoint is compelling.

Dutch midfielder De Jong returned from the World Cup with torn knee ligaments and is set to miss approximately five months of action during his recovery. The 29-year-old's absence, combined with Pedri's ongoing fitness concerns—the Spaniard missed 15 games through injury last season—suggests there is a clear need for additional midfield reinforcement.

Other midfield options at the club including Gavi, Dani Olmo and Fermín López tend to operate in more advanced positions with differing skill sets, leaving the side light on defensive-minded alternatives. Marc Casadó and Marc Bernal are two in-house options that coach Hansi Flick can call upon, but both are still developing and lack significant top-flight experience due to their age.

Having already splashed over €100 million ($115 million) this summer on new signings, Barcelona are also still pursuing a striker, with Julián Alvarez their primary target. That deal may ultimately take precedence over a short-term midfield solution—even if it means passing up the chance to unsettle their rivals.

Real Madrid Seek Controller

For Madrid, the need for a midfield controller has been evident for some time. The club has repeatedly come up short in crucial moments over the past two seasons, with the exits of club icons Toni Kroos and Luka Modrić leaving a noticeable void in the center of the pitch.

Aurelién Tchouaméni is currently the first team's only dedicated defensive midfielder, though several other players have filled in at various points, including Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and academy prospect Thiago Pitarch.

New manager José Mourinho's favored 4-2-3-1 formation will depend on a double pivot, placing greater importance on a midfield foundation that shields the defense and dictates the tempo of play.

Landing a player of Rodri's caliber would give Madrid the dual benefit of solving a specific tactical problem while also injecting much-needed elite experience and leadership into a dressing room in need of stability.

With Pérez also working on a potentially record-breaking deal for RB Leipzig's Yan Diomande, it remains unclear how much financial flexibility will remain for a Rodri transfer—and news of growing competition driving up his price will be far from welcome.

Nevertheless, it is evident that Real Madrid need Rodri, or a player of his profile.

Rodri's Preferred Move

As for Rodri himself, he has repeatedly made public statements indicating his openness to a move to the Bernabéu.

Back in 2024, the former Atlético Madrid man told Spanish media: "When Real Madrid call you ... you always have to pay attention."

Ahead of the World Cup this summer, he stated he would address his future once the tournament concluded. He likely did not anticipate those weeks in North America being quite so life-changing.

Before the summer, he was regarded as a quality player but one whose best days appeared behind him following an inconsistent club campaign. Having turned 30 and undergone ACL surgery, conventional thinking suggested Rodri was no longer among the world's elite. Yet after lifting the trophy at MetLife Stadium as Spain's captain, he catapulted back to the pinnacle of the sport and is now a genuine Ballon d'Or contender—an award he previously claimed in 2024.

As a result, AS reports that alongside Barça and Madrid, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain are also monitoring his situation closely.

That report suggests that if Rodri does decide to move on after seven years in Manchester, there is only one destination he has in mind: Real Madrid. He is reportedly "unfazed" by the emerging interest from Barcelona.

Now, it will come down to who can reach an agreement with Manchester City.