Barcelona has revealed the timeline behind their surprising capture of one of the summer’s hottest prospects, Rodri, snatching him away from Real Madrid. Initially, the Catalan club was trailing significantly in the race for the Manchester City midfielder.
The negotiations began quietly at the end of July, with Deco taking the lead by reaching out first to Rodri’s representatives. Deco then held a private, three-hour meeting with Rodri at a five-star hotel in Barcelona, where he outlined the club’s vision and explained the role Rodri would play in the team.
Before this meeting, Real Madrid was leading the pursuit, but Rodri had not given them a definitive commitment. Following the discussions, the midfielder’s stance clearly shifted in Barcelona’s favor.
Hansi Flick also engaged with Rodri on multiple occasions, playing a crucial part in persuading him to join Barcelona.
Former Manchester City staff member Dani Codina, who maintains close ties with Rodri, helped facilitate the meeting and was instrumental in the entire operation.
During a recent trip to Madrid, Deco reassured Rodri’s circle that Barcelona sees him as the future leader of their midfield.
On Thursday, around 15:00 UTC, Barcelona received confirmation from Rodri’s representatives that the player was fully convinced by the project presented by Deco and Flick, choosing the Catalan club over Real Madrid.
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