Barcelona have ruled out a move for Manchester City midfielder Rodri in the current summer transfer window, putting an end to rampant speculation.
According to reports from MARCA, sporting director Deco and head coach Hansi Flick reached a consensus early in the transfer window that the midfield is fully stocked. The depth in this area is so ample that Marc Casado has even been advised to seek a temporary loan to another club to gain regular playing time.
Even an injury to Frenkie de Jong hasn't persuaded the Catalans to alter their stance. Barcelona identifies two main obstacles to signing the 30-year-old Spaniard:
Financial considerations: Manchester City are expected to demand at least €70 million for the defensive midfielder, a figure that doesn't align with Barcelona's priorities, as they aim to bolster their attacking and defensive lines instead.
Player preference: The Blaugrana believe that if Rodri were to leave City, he would likely favour a move to Real Madrid over Barcelona. Consequently, the club is unwilling to enter into what they perceive as a losing bidding war.
As things stand, Hansi Flick has a strong array of midfield options at his disposal, including Pedri, Marc Bernal, Gavi, Fermin Lopez, and Dani Olmo. Should the need arise, Eric Garcia or Andreas Christensen could also fill in as required.
