FC Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Manchester City midfielder Rodri amid the Premier League’s announcement this week that the Etihad Stadium side have made over 100 financial breaches.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the Catalan giants are looking to swoop for some of City’s most important players following the news this Monday that City had been found guilty by the Premier League of several financial breaches stretching all the way back to 2011.
As per the report, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva, two players who have been heavily linked with Barcelona in the past, are being eyed by Xavi Hernandez, with Rodri now on the Blaugrana’s watchlist amid rumours that City’s star names could want to leave in the summer.
Rodri was signed for £63m in 2019 and has been one of City’s most important players since arriving from Atletico Madrid, yet Barcelona are now keen on signing the Spanish international if the midfielder is open to leaving Manchester at the end of this season.
Indeed, Rodri is yet to show any indication that he wants to leave City even amidst the current problems the club find themselves in. Yet with Barcelona now interested, the midfielder could be tempted by a return to Spain to play for Xavi Hernandez’s league leaders.
Moreover, if Sergio Busquets is to leave the club in the summer at the end of his contract, no player in Europe can replace the Barcelona legend as effectively as Rodri, who has excelled under Pep Guardiola in a like-for-like role for City over the past four seasons.
Rodri could be tempted to sign for Barcelona if Busquets leaves
City’s future is as uncertain as arguably any club’s in the Premier League, and for a player like Rodri, signing for Barcelona could be a hugely appealing option if Busquets was to leave in the summer, with the 26-year-old ideal to replace the La Liga and Spanish legend.
Whilst finances from Barcelona’s end could be difficult, a short decision from the Premier League could result in City being forced to sell some players on the cheap, with Rodri a name who could easily be affordable for the Catalan giants if this was to be the case.
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