Liga President Javier Tebas Calls Rodri the Best Player Worldwide After Barcelona Move

Rodri Declared Top Player by Liga Boss After Barcelona Transfer

Javier Tebas, president of Liga, has hailed Rodri as the best-performing footballer globally after his high-profile transfer to Barcelona this summer. Tebas made these remarks at a recent event promoting the new Liga EA Sports Panini sticker album.

Rodri’s Big Summer Switch

Rodri’s move to Barcelona ended weeks of intense speculation, during which he was heavily linked to Barcelona’s archrivals, Real Madrid. The tug-of-war for the midfielder’s signature was one of the biggest stories of the transfer window, with many wondering where he would land. Choosing Catalonia’s top club over Madrid caught many by surprise and sparked excitement across Spanish football.

His signing is seen as a significant boost for the league’s global profile heading into the new season.

Tebas’s Strong Endorsement

During the sticker album launch on Wednesday, Tebas expressed no preference about which club secured Rodri. He said, "I am happy that Rodri is playing for Barcelona. It makes no difference to me whether he is at Madrid, Barcelona, or anywhere else. I believe he is currently the best-performing player in the world, and I am very pleased."

He emphasized that landing a player of Rodri’s quality is a win not just for Barcelona but for Spanish football as a whole.

The Transfer Tug-of-War

Real Madrid had been considered strong contenders to sign Rodri, and adding him to their squad would have been a major boost. Instead, Barcelona managed to secure the talented midfielder despite the fierce competition, strengthening their midfield options significantly.

Rodri’s Immediate Impact

Since joining, Rodri has wasted no time making his mark. He has featured in three Liga matches already, integrating smoothly with the Barcelona squad. His importance was underlined when he started in the club’s Champions League opener against Feyenoord, showing trust from the manager in key European fixtures.

• Match: Levante vs Barcelona
• Date: 13 September 2026
• Kickoff: 16:15