Barcelona close to renewing 18-year-old academy goalkeeper amid growing interest | OneFootball

Barcelona are on the verge of finalising another important piece of business away from the transfer market, with Iker Rodriguez Barcelona renewal talks now entering their final stages.

According to Mundo Deportivo, the club has made the 18-year-old goalkeeper’s extension a priority, to the extent that members of the first-team sporting structure have become directly involved in negotiations.

The agreement is now considered imminent, with all parties aligned over the terms of a new deal despite growing interest from several clubs across Europe.

Barcelona view Rodriguez as a long-term goalkeeper

The Iker Rodriguez renewal update explains just how highly the youngster is regarded within the club.

Although he remains tied to the youth setup until 2027, Barcelona have moved to secure his long-term future before outside interest intensifies further.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Iker Rodriguez (@ikerrodriguez.01)

The goalkeeper is viewed as a player capable of competing for a significant role in the years ahead and is already considered a potential challenger to Joan Garcia for the starting position in the future.

As far as the immediate plans are concerned, the expectation is that Rodriguez will become the third-choice goalkeeper in the senior squad under Hansi Flick.

Notably, the German coach already knows the player well, having invited him to participate in several first-team training sessions during the 2024/25 season.

Even at the age of 16 and 17, Rodriguez impressed enough to remain on the club’s radar.

Flick could include Iker Rodriguez in pre-season plans

Another indication of the confidence Barcelona have in the youngster is the possibility of him joining the first team for pre-season training.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Iker Rodriguez (@ikerrodriguez.01)

Reports suggest Iker Rodriguez could begin preparations with Flick’s squad next week, when the available players begin training for the new season.

Right now, the battle for the third-choice goalkeeper role remains open, with Eder Aller also competing for the position after already featuring regularly for Barcelona Atletic.

Despite the competition within the team, Barcelona believe Rodriguez has the talent required to become a long-term solution between the posts.

This is confirmed by the fact that interest from clubs around Europe threatened to complicate his renewal, but the player’s desire to remain at Camp Nou proved decisive.

Recognising his potential, Barcelona improved their proposal and moved to avoid losing another promising academy product.