Rodri's Move to Barcelona: Who Gains and Who Loses?

After clinching consecutive La Liga titles, Barcelona managed to sign the top defensive midfielder in the world, Rodri, locking him down for four years. Even though their midfield was already strong under coach Hansi Flick, the Catalan club knew passing on a player of Rodri's caliber was out of the question.

With Rodri, the team’s midfield, already regarded as Spain’s best, becomes even more dangerous—adding to a squad that claimed five trophies over the past two seasons. While this signing benefits Barcelona greatly, not all players will welcome his arrival with open arms.

Winners

• Pau CubarsíPau got a taste of playing alongside Rodri during the 2026 World Cup, where both were crucial in Spain conceding just one goal across eight games. Rodri excelled at breaking up plays before they reached Cubarsí, offering vital protection. The 19-year-old, named Young Player of the Tournament, now gains a teammate who supports him defensively at club level too, easing the pressure of Barcelona’s aggressive high defensive line.
• PedriKnown as Barcelona’s main playmaker, Pedri experienced a drop in form last season and struggled at the World Cup, leading to his absence in key knockout matches. Fatigue and inconsistent partners affected him. Rodri’s presence will provide stability and allow Pedri more freedom to operate creatively, boosting his performance as they’ve already tested their partnership during the summer.
• Hansi FlickThe German coach is likely the biggest beneficiary. Having worked with a youthful squad and tight budget constraints since 2024, Flick led Barcelona to multiple domestic trophies but lacked the firepower in midfield to challenge Europe’s best. Rodri brings experience, leadership, and familiarity with La Liga, having played for Villarreal, Atlético Madrid, and Manchester City. He fills gaps left by departing veterans, giving Flick the midfield anchor he sought.

Losers

• Frenkie de JongDe Jong’s summer worsened after the Netherlands exited early from the World Cup and he suffered an MCL injury. Now sidelined, he faces losing his spot to Rodri, who is expected to take over the pivot role alongside Pedri. De Jong was already competing with Gavi for minutes, and now he must contend with the new signing once he returns.
• GaviSince recovering from an ACL injury, Gavi looked set to cement his place in the XI, especially with De Jong injured. Rodri’s arrival pushes him down the pecking order, making regular playing time harder to come by. Flick’s support might ensure Gavi still sees minutes in cup competitions or less critical league games.
• Real MadridOften intertwined with Barcelona stories, Real Madrid find themselves on the losing end here. They were favorites to sign Rodri, who was born in Madrid and had considered joining Los Blancos. Instead, Barcelona swooped in, leaving Real without a true deep-lying playmaker to replace Toni Kroos for the third straight season. Their only midfield addition was Bernardo Silva, Rodri’s ex-teammate from Manchester City, which might not suffice to fix their ongoing midfield issues.