FC Barcelona is closely monitoring the situation around Manchester City's midfielder Rodri, who has become a prime transfer target for both Barcelona and their archrivals Real Madrid. According to reports from Cadena SER and SPORT, Barça is ready to act if talks between City and Madrid collapse. The 30-year-old Spanish international is regarded by the Catalans as a top defensive midfielder with potential Ballon d’Or credentials, making him an attractive addition to their squad, especially in light of Frenkie de Jong’s current injury sidelining him for several months.

Barça sees Rodri as a crucial upgrade in midfield, providing a more robust defensive presence. This move would reinforce their domestic superiority, as Barcelona has won five of the last six Spanish trophies, while Real Madrid has failed to secure major titles recently. Rodri’s ability to connect well with Barcelona’s young talents like Pedri and Lamine Yamal, as well as his recent success winning the World Cup with Spain, make him an ideal candidate to maintain and extend Barça’s dominance in La Liga.

The financial aspect appears manageable as Manchester City reportedly values Rodri at around $86.4 million (€75 million), a figure within Barcelona’s reach after previously submitting a $115 million (€100 million) bid for Julian Alvarez that was turned down. While the monetary terms seem feasible, securing Rodri’s personal approval to join Barcelona remains a key factor for the deal to proceed. His willingness to switch to the Blaugrana shirt will likely dictate whether Barcelona moves ahead decisively in the transfer market.

In summary, FC Barcelona is preparing for a potential high-profile signing that could solidify their midfield and prolong their superiority over Real Madrid. With Rodri viewed both as a quality defensive reinforcement and a potential star player on the rise, the club remains vigilant in the transfer race. Should Real Madrid’s pursuit falter, Barcelona could leverage their financial strength and project an attractive sporting vision to convince Rodri to become a new key figure at Camp Nou.