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Following consecutive La Liga championship victories, Barcelona made a bold move by securing the services of the world's finest defensive midfielder, tying Rodri down to a four-year deal.
Midfield was far from a weak spot for the reigning Spanish champions this summer; Hansi Flick boasts an incredibly deep engine room, so much so that La Masia products are seeking exits from Catalonia simply to get meaningful playing time.
Yet Barcelona clearly determined that letting the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball winner slip away was simply not a possibility, regardless of the talent already at their disposal. Rodri, now contracted through June 2030, instantly upgrades what is already regarded as Spain's finest midfield, injecting even greater threat into a side that claimed five trophies across the past two campaigns.
The advantages of such a marquee signing are obvious for Barcelona, but not every player in the squad will be celebrating Rodri's arrival.
Winners
Pau Cubarsí
Pau Cubarsí experienced firsthand what it means to play alongside Rodri at the 2026 World Cup, and the young center back is undoubtedly delighted to now have the midfielder as a club colleague too. The pair played crucial roles in helping Spain concede just a single goal across eight matches this summer.
Rodri served as the ideal disruptor in the heart of midfield, neutralizing counter-attacks before they could even reach Cubarsí at the back. Very few players this summer managed to get past the 30-year-old in transition, and those who did still had to deal with Cubarsí.
Whenever the 19-year-old, who earned the Young Player of the Tournament award, required assistance, Rodri was consistently on hand, dropping into a deeper role as an extra center back to reinforce Spain's defensive line. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner completed 24 tackles at the World Cup, more than any other player.
Now Cubarsí will enjoy that same level of protection at Barcelona, where he so frequently walks the tightrope between brilliance and vulnerability under Flick's notorious high defensive line.
Pedri
Criticism rarely comes Pedri's way, given that he has been Barcelona's creative heartbeat and standout midfielder for several years. However, his performances declined in the second half of 2025–26, and he was unable to rediscover his best form at the World Cup, to the extent that Luis de la Fuente left the 23-year-old out of his starting lineup for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.
Fatigue was a significant factor in Pedri's relative dip. The Spaniard made 59 appearances in 2024–25 and then 43 the following season, rarely being afforded rest unless sidelined through injury. He was also constantly adapting to different partners, ranging from Frenkie de Jong and Gavi to Eric García and Marc Bernal.
Rodri's signing finally provides Pedri with some consistency in midfield, along with the freedom to express himself. The two also had an ideal trial run this summer, discovering what works—and crucially, what doesn't—when operating alongside each other.
A player of Rodri's caliber can only serve to enhance Pedri's already near-flawless game.
Hansi Flick
Perhaps the greatest beneficiary, however, is Flick himself. Since the German manager took charge in Catalonia ahead of the 2024–25 season, he has been working with a youthful squad and limited funds to recruit elite talent due to Barcelona's ongoing financial constraints.
Despite this, Flick still guided the Catalans to successive La Liga and Spanish Super Cup triumphs, along with the 2024–25 Copa del Rey title. The one missing piece remains Champions League glory, and now the coach has the world's premier No. 6 to help him pursue that ambition.
The best part? Flick won't need to ease Rodri into the squad or the Spanish top flight. The midfielder came through at Villarreal and represented Atlético Madrid before his move to Manchester City. He knows the league, the language, and many of his new teammates, having just lifted the World Cup with them this summer.
Rodri also brings invaluable experience to Flick's dressing room, filling the void left by veteran presences Iñigo Martínez and Ronald Araújo. And if there is one quality Flick prizes above all else, it is leadership.
Losers
Frenkie de Jong
De Jong's summer continues to go from bad to worse. The midfielder was eliminated from the World Cup in the round of 32 with the Netherlands, then sustained an MCL injury to his right knee, and now must welcome Rodri to Catalonia while sidelined and unable to even compete for a starting spot.
The new arrival will almost certainly slot into De Jong's position alongside Pedri in Flick's double pivot, a role he is likely to retain even once the Dutchman recovers from his injury. Regardless of De Jong's quality, he simply is not Rodri.
De Jong was already battling Gavi for minutes toward the end of last season, and now he must factor Rodri into that equation as well. It is the worst possible outcome for the 29-year-old.
Gavi
In a similar situation, Gavi now faces a steep challenge in securing regular minutes. Since returning from his ACL injury in March, the Spaniard produced a strong finish to 2025–26, displacing De Jong in the starting lineup.
Gavi had been set to continue in that role heading into 2026–27, given De Jong's extended absence. However, Rodri's arrival has pushed him back to the bench.
The silver lining is that Flick is a well-known admirer of Gavi and has consistently backed the Spaniard publicly. The German manager will be eager to hand the midfielder as many minutes as possible, even if most of those opportunities come in Copa del Rey fixtures or low-stakes La Liga encounters.
Real Madrid
Where Barcelona goes, Real Madrid are never far behind—and on this occasion, the latter are left nursing their disappointment. The 15-time European champions had been the leading candidates to sign Rodri this summer; the midfielder was born in the Spanish capital and had previously shown interest in joining Los Blancos.
However, Barcelona entered the race and completely snatched Rodri's signature from under their rivals' noses. Real Madrid had been banking on the newly crowned world champion to finally fill the void left by the departed Toni Kroos, but now find themselves without a deep-lying playmaker for a third consecutive season.
The only midfield addition José Mourinho managed this summer is Rodri's former Manchester City teammate Bernardo Silva. The Portugal international is unlikely to be sufficient to address the club's persistent midfield issues, leaving Los Blancos poorly positioned once again to mount a serious challenge for the Spanish title.