Hansi Flick did not sound like a manager pushing Barcelona into an urgent chase for Rodri. Barcelona are monitoring the Manchester City midfielder, and he has less than one year left on his contract, but Flick's own line was plain: the squad already has a lot of midfielders.

Flick's message on Barcelona's midfield

“We're always thinking about improving the team and what's best for it. But at the moment, I think we have a lot of midfielders. That's the situation. We'll see what happens over the next few weeks,” Flick told barcauniversal.com.

That sits neatly with what Barcelona have already done. They informed Manchester City they want updates on Rodri's contractual situation, yet the interest still looks like a watchlist rather than a full-speed move.

Why de Jong's injury does not settle it

Barcelona do have a midfield issue to weigh up, because Frenkie de Jong's injury has opened a void they are still balancing against other priorities. De Jong's 335 minutes across 4 appearances show the size of that absence, but it has not turned Barcelona's season into a collapse. They have still won 5 of their last 10 matches.

That is why Rodri stays in the conversation without becoming the obvious answer. Rodri has less than one year remaining on his contract, which keeps the situation open, but Barcelona are not treating him as their top priority this window.

Cadena SER journalist Nil Sola put the wider picture like this: “Barcelona are prepared to rival Real Madrid for the signing of Rodri if the Manchester City midfielder opens the door to a move to Camp Nou this summer.” Real Madrid are still considered the favourites, so Barcelona's route depends on the market shifting first.

Rodri's own level explains why he is even in the discussion. He posted a 7.57 average rating across 8 appearances and 745 minutes in the 2026 World Cup form data, which is the kind of output that keeps elite clubs attentive. But Barcelona's position remains the one Flick described, improvement is welcome, a crowded midfield is still a factor, and the club are waiting for more clarity before they push.

The next few weeks will decide whether this becomes a serious transfer race or just another live option on Barcelona's list.

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →