Barcelona Enter the Race for Rodri
The future of Rodri Hernández is shaping up to become one of the biggest storylines of the transfer window. The Manchester City midfielder is being tracked by several of Europe's top clubs, but for now, Real Madrid appears to have the upper hand.
The information was revealed by journalist Fabrice Hawkins of RMC Sport, who reported that the Spanish giants have already reached a verbal agreement with the Spain international, while both Paris Saint-Germain and FC Barcelona are seriously considering entering the race.
Although no agreement has yet been reached between the clubs, the transfer saga is beginning to take shape, and everything points to the World Cup winner's future being decided during this transfer window.
Real Madrid Hold the Advantage
According to Fabrice Hawkins, Real Madrid is currently the club best positioned to sign Rodri.
The French journalist reports that the Spanish midfielder has already reached a verbal agreement with the LaLiga giants, leaving only negotiations with Manchester City to finalize a potential transfer.
However, the deal will not be easy.
The English club considers Rodri one of the world's best midfielders and, according to multiple reports from England, has placed an asking price of around €100 million on the player.
Even so, the contractual situation could work in Real Madrid's favor.
The Spain international's contract expires on June 30, 2027, meaning this summer could represent one of Manchester City's final opportunities to secure a significant transfer fee should the player decide not to renew.
PSG Have Made Contact; Barcelona Also Join the Race
The competition, however, continues to grow.
According to the same report from Fabrice Hawkins, Paris Saint-Germain has already contacted Manchester City to learn the conditions required to complete a transfer.
Although the French champions were not planning to sign a central midfielder during this transfer window, the club believes Rodri's contractual situation represents a market opportunity too valuable to ignore.
For now, the Parisian board is still evaluating whether to make a formal move.
As for FC Barcelona, the interest is also genuine.
The recent injury suffered by Frenkie de Jong, who is expected to undergo a minor surgical procedure, has forced the Catalan club to explore options to strengthen its midfield.
The biggest obstacle, however, remains financial.
Barcelona's economic situation makes a deal worth around €100 million extremely difficult, although club officials could attempt a financial effort similar to the one they recently considered for Julián Álvarez if they determine that signing Rodri represents a unique market opportunity.
Why Does Everyone Want Rodri?
It is no coincidence that three European giants are pursuing the same player.
Rodri has established himself as one of the most complete midfielders in world football thanks to his ability to recover possession, dictate the tempo of matches, and build attacks from deep.
He also arrives after helping the Spain National Team win the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he once again proved why he is regarded as one of the world's elite midfielders.
His leadership, consistency, and tactical intelligence make him the type of player capable of transforming any team.
Everything Depends on Manchester City
Although Real Madrid currently leads the race, the final decision is still far from being made.
Manchester City remains hopeful of convincing Rodri to sign a new contract and continue as one of the cornerstones of Enzo Maresca's project.
Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain is deciding whether to fully enter the race, while FC Barcelona continues evaluating whether its financial situation will allow the club to compete for a player of Rodri's caliber.
For now, Real Madrid remains in pole position.
But with several of Europe's biggest clubs closely monitoring the situation, the transfer saga surrounding Rodri Hernández is only just beginning.
