Rodri lands in Barcelona to reshape Barça’s midfield | OneFootball

Rodri Hernández has landed in Barcelona to finalise a move from Manchester City. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, the midfielder arrived at El Prat on Monday as the league season begins this week.

Barça enter the week with most roles doubled, but centre forward still lacks a specialist. Even so, a marquee signing, Rodri reshapes Hansi Flick’s plans.

He touched down hours after Joao Cancelo reappeared at the terminal three months on from his farewell. The Portugal defender left Al Hilal on a free and is to sign for three seasons, saying he is where he wants to be.

Barça will pay more than 60 million to City. With a framework agreement in place, presentation and training will follow once registration and medical checks are completed. The club expect to stage the event on Tuesday and hope he can be involved in Wednesday’s Gamper.

Rodri gives Flick a true single pivot, closer in profile to Sergio Busquets. Busquets has returned to Barcelona as a coach, assisting Juliano Belletti with the B team during his licence course.

Flick has rotated options in that role, and Rodri’s positioning could ease defensive work for one interior. Frenkie de Jong is out for an unspecified, expected long spell, and although short of training, Rodri is ready to play. Fermín López has taken 7 and will hand 16 to Rodri, his long-standing number for City and Spain.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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