Principle of agreement between Barcelona and Manchester City for Rodrigo Hernández

Ballon d'Or winner Rodrigo Hernández is about to become a new FC Barcelona player. The Catalan club and Manchester City have reached an agreement in principle, according to EFE, and the midfielder will sign with the Blaugrana team for the next four seasons.

Rodri, 30, will play until 2030 for the Barça team, which, according to various media, will pay City around 65 million euros for his transfer, plus another 5 million in variables.

The Spanish international did not enter the list this Sunday for the Community Shield match (English Super Cup) that Enzo Maresca's team lost 3-0 against Arsenal. The player underwent back surgery several weeks ago, upon his return from the World Cup, and continues in rehabilitation, so it was already known that he would not be called up for the duel against the 'Gunners' that kicks off the season in England.

FC Barcelona would have made a new offer between 60 and 80 million euros requested by Manchester City, which had already rejected two previous bids that would be around 50 and 60 million, various media report.

According to those same sources, City would be interested in the incorporation of the Argentine international Enzo Fernández, currently a Chelsea player, with whose entourage they would have been in contact in the last few hours.

Although his future seemed to be directed towards Real Madrid, Rodri gave the go-ahead at the beginning of August for Barcelona to negotiate his signing with the English club. Although Barça's priority was to reinforce the forward line, as coach Hansi Flick has been publicly insisting, in the Spotify Camp Nou offices they saw a market opportunity in the 30-year-old Madrid player, who was ending his contract next summer with his current club.

Brand new World Cup champion with Spain and MVP of the tournament, the midfielder was convinced by the Barça sports project, of which eight of his teammates in the national team are already part (Joan Garcia, Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedro González 'Pedri', Ferran Torres and Lamine Yamal).

Rodri, Ballon d'Or in 2024, is considered one of the best players in the world in his position and his arrival will reinforce the midfield, a field that Barcelona seemed to have well covered with up to seven players: Pablo Páez Gavira 'Gavi', Pedro González 'Pedri', Fermín López, Marc Casadó, Dani Olmo, Marc Bernal and Frenkie de Jong.