Rodri’s high-profile transfer from Manchester City to Barcelona for up to €76.5million (£65.3m; $87.8m) remains on hold for the La Liga opening match against Elche as the midfielder trains apart from the group following his arrival from a Costa Brava holiday.
The journey from a wedding on the Costa Brava to the Camp Nou happened in a matter of weeks, shifting the landscape of Spanish football before a competitive ball was even kicked for the new season. Fresh from lifting the World Cup and earning the tournament’s best player award, the 30-year-old Spain captain attended the late-July celebration of Dani Codina, Barcelona’s chief of operations and player services and a former Manchester City backroom staff member who started his role at Barcelona in 2025. Multiple members of City’s backroom staff under Pep Guardiola were also present at the wedding in Spain’s north east, which took place after Rodri arrived with enough time to unwind in a picturesque landscape two hours up the coast from Barcelona.
What followed was a covert recruitment effort that ultimately outmaneuvered rival interest from Real Madrid. While guests at the wedding whispered about a potential change of heart, Rodri needed a favour during his stay: a discreet spot to meet somebody for lunch where he absolutely had to go unnoticed. He was pointed towards a restaurant in Begur called Can Pitu, a traditional, old-school, unprepossessing place off the radar and away from the most touristic streets, mostly frequented by locals. Rodri stepped into the restaurant without a reservation and asked for a table, and a few minutes later, Barcelona’s sporting director Deco came in.
How Barcelona Beat Real Madrid in a High-Stakes Hijack
Sources at the 15-time European champions appeared confident, and like all those cited here, spoke anonymously to protect relationships, viewing the arrival of the midfielder as they watched how Real Madrid’s side of the pursuit unfolded. Pictures of Rodri and Deco together would have made for a major scoop, especially at a point when it was looking like Rodri would be leaving Manchester City to join Real Madrid.
The transfer agreement could be worth up to €76.5million (£65.3m; $87.8m) including add-ons, punctuating an eventful summer for the club.
Delayed Debut and Training Routine Ahead of Elche Match
Despite the fanfare surrounding his arrival as Barcelona’s most notable summer signing, Rodri missed group training on Saturday, ruling him out of immediate plans for the opening La Liga fixture against Elche. According to the Spanish newspaper “Marca”, the midfielder trained apart from his teammates and stayed off the pitch during the 15 minutes open to the media, making an appearance in the season opener look highly complicated.
He worked alone on Friday, then repeated the same routine on Saturday. Barring a surprise, the paper reckons Rodri’s Barcelona debut will be pushed back a few more days. It has been an eventful week: Rodri arrived on Monday and was unveiled as a new Catalan player on Tuesday. Wednesday brought the Joan Gamper Cup, and although the international took no part in the match, he still stole the show, drawing the loudest applause at the presentation ceremony before training individually across Friday and Saturday.
La Masia Talent Seizes Opening Amid Squad Rotations
While Rodri adjusts to his new surroundings, Xavi Espart could be handed one of the biggest opportunities of his young Barcelona career on Sunday, with the La Masia midfielder in contention to start the 2026/27 La Liga opener against Elche, reports SPORT. The teenager has impressed Hansi Flick throughout pre-season and already received a major vote of confidence when he started the Joan Gamper Trophy, Barcelona’s final dress rehearsal before competitive football begins. Espart’s versatility has been one of his biggest strengths throughout pre-season; although he featured predominantly at right-back during his six senior appearances last season, his ability to operate in midfield gives Flick another solution. A start against Elche would put four members of the club’s highly-rated 2007 generation on the pitch together in a competitive match, including Pau Cubarsi, Marc Bernal and Lamine Yamal.
Pedri’s gradual return following his post-World Cup break could open the door for Espart to keep his place. The Spanish midfielder has been eased back into the group after returning from his World Cup break, and Flick must decide whether he is ready to start the first league game. If the coach prefers to manage Pedri’s minutes, Espart has positioned himself as a credible alternative.
Additionally, Hamza Abdelkarim’s impressive pre-season could hand Hansi Flick an unexpected attacking option when Barcelona begin their 2026/27 La Liga campaign against Elche. According to Mundo Deportivo, the 18-year-old Egyptian forward is increasingly gaining ground as a possible option for Flick ahead of Sunday’s season opener. Barcelona are still looking at the transfer market for another striker, with both Flick and sporting director Deco leaving the door open for further attacking additions, but Abdelkarim finished pre-season with four goals in just three appearances, including the opening goal in the Joan Gamper Trophy victory over Al Ahly. He started against his former club, played 73 minutes and once again showed the instincts of a natural penalty-box striker, standing out at a time when the club is searching for a new centre-forward following the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres.
What the Transfer Means for the Season Ahead
As Barcelona prepare for the start of La Liga, Flick used Espart from the beginning during pre-season preparations, and that decision has naturally strengthened the possibility of another start against Elche. With Rodri’s debut pushed back following his individual training routine on Friday and Saturday, and attackers like Abdelkarim pushing for minutes alongside returning core players, Barcelona head into their opening fixture balancing immediate squad adjustments with the integration of their blockbuster summer signing.
