Real Madrid Target Rodri Appears to Have Chosen FC Barcelona

It has been the world's worst kept secret that Real Madrid are seriously interested in signing Rodri this summer. 

After the player had made it clear he wanted to join, and after his exceptional World Cup with Spain, where he won the tournament and the Golden Ball, president Florentino Perez decided to green light the deal.

In recent days, it felt like it would be a matter of time before a deal happened. Any hold up would be natural, as he was playing in the World Cup final just 17 days ago, and players are allowed at least three weeks off, so he is likely still on holiday. 

However, this morning, we aggregated the news that the signing was in doubt. 1) because the club are struggling to shift players, and the squad is currently at maximum capacity, and 2) because there is a big difference in valuation to what City want for the player. 

Well, there has now been a significant update. One that was briefly touched on in those above pieces, but now with more to it. Indeed so, as it is being reported by French journalist Fabrice Hawkins that Rodri has decided he wants to join Barcelona instead. 

He says that both City and Real Madrid are aware of the player's stance. Barcelona have had a long standing interest in the midfielder, and an injury in that area has only intensified their interest. They believe he is ideal for their style of play, and the midfielder thinks so too. 

Finally, Hawkins mentions that an offer of 60-70 million Euros could be enough to get him from City, which is interesting because in the aforementioned piece about the difference in valuation, it was said City wanting 80 million Euros was a stumbling block. That said, it was also reported that Real Madrid would go no further than 50 million, which still wouldn't be enough for the 60-70 million, so quite academic in the end. 

Well. This is not good at all. It cannot be overstated how big a loss this would be, especially if your title rivals get him instead. Rodri would have been a transformative signing. The midfield has not been good enough ever since Toni Kroos retired, and even more so when Luka Modric left a year later. Who would even be an alternative? Would there be one? And if there isn't, it could be a very, very long season once again.