World Cup 2026's best player, Rodri, moved from Man City to Barca for 69 million USD, plus 17 million in add-ons, during the recent transfer window. He also received an offer from Real, Barca's Spanish rival and record holder for Champions League titles, but he firmly rejected it.

Speaking to Mundo Deportivo on 14/9, Rodri admitted that turning down Real was difficult, particularly given their enthusiastic pursuit. "It was an important decision between the two best clubs in the world," the former Man City star said. "Ultimately, I decided based on sporting considerations, what motivates me most, where I can win and develop best as a player."

Spain's Rodri poses with the best player trophy after the World Cup 2026 final against Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York, My, on 19/7/2026. Photo: AP

According to Marca, a move to Real would have seen Rodri earn 19 million USD annually after tax, matching the salaries of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius. His current salary at Barca is 16 million USD, which is three million higher than his previous earnings at Man City.

Beyond the attractive financial package, Real also demonstrated significant appreciation. Officials and coach Jose Mourinho personally called Rodri to persuade him, promising to build the team around the World Cup's best player.

"When I made my decision, I also called Mourinho to thank him for his interest and how he treated me," Rodri stated. "I think he is a great coach. He has proven that everywhere during successful periods. Real will be a tough opponent."

Barca, initially behind in the pursuit, ultimately secured Rodri. Like their rivals, the Catalan club dispatched Sporting Director Deco and coach Hansi Flick to make their case. Rodri was impressed by Barca's natural and "family-like" approach.

Rodri added, "Barca's representatives didn't try to persuade me with numbers. They focused more on football and what they felt I could contribute on and off the field."

Since joining Barca, Rodri has played in five of the first six matches of the 2026-2027 season. He helped the team achieve five consecutive La Liga victories and a 5-1 win over Feyenoord in their Champions League qualifying opener. As a defensive midfielder, he rarely scores or assists. However, Rodri consistently performs as one of the best players, thanks to his exceptional ability to intercept, distribute the ball, control game tempo, demonstrate tactical vision, and relieve pressure from opponents. Fotmob rated Rodri between 7,4 and 8,1 out of 10 in these five matches, placing him among the top performers.

The environment at Barca was also familiar to Rodri. The club contributed the most players, eight, to the World Cup-winning national team. In contrast, Real had no players in the squad until they acquired Marc Cucurella just before the tournament.

By Thanh Quy (via MD)