Rodri’s Move to Barcelona: Who Gains and Who Loses?

Rodri is now committed to Barcelona until 2030, marking a major coup for the reigning Spanish champions. After securing consecutive La Liga titles, the club managed to bring in what many consider the top defensive midfielder globally, locking him down for four years.

Although Barcelona’s midfield was already strong under coach Hansi Flick, with plenty of talent coming through La Masia, they clearly felt that missing out on the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball winner was not an option. Rodri instantly boosts what’s regarded as Spain’s best midfield, adding more threat to a team that has won five trophies over the last two seasons.

While the transfer benefits the team greatly, not every player will welcome Rodri’s arrival.

The Winners

Pau Cubarsí

Pau Cubarsí impressed at the 2026 World Cup, especially in the final, where he partnered closely with Rodri. The young center back must be thrilled to have Rodri now as a teammate at Barcelona. Both played key roles in helping Spain concede only one goal across eight matches.

Rodri served as a disruptive force in midfield, stopping attacks before they reached Cubarsí, who was the last line of defense. Few players could get past Rodri during transitions, and those who did faced Cubarsí. When needed, Rodri even dropped back as an extra center back, solidifying the defense.

Rodri led all players with 24 tackles in the World Cup. Now, Cubarsí can count on that same support at Barcelona, where he often operates on a risky high defensive line under Flick.

Pedri

Pedri has been Barcelona’s driving force in midfield for years, rarely drawing criticism. Yet his form dipped in the latter half of the 2025–26 season and never fully recovered at the World Cup, leading to his omission from Spain’s starting lineup in the quarterfinals, semifinals, and final.

Fatigue took its toll; Pedri played 59 matches in 2024–25 and 43 last season, barely resting unless injured. He also struggled with constantly changing midfield partners.

Rodri’s arrival offers Pedri stability and freedom to move around the pitch. Their time together this summer showed what works between them and what doesn’t. A player of Rodri’s caliber should help lift Pedri’s performance, which already has few flaws.

Hansi Flick

Flick might be the biggest beneficiary. Since joining Barcelona before the 2024–25 season, the German coach has worked with a young squad and limited budget due to financial restrictions but still secured consecutive La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles, plus the 2024–25 Copa del Rey.

The missing piece has been Champions League success, and now Flick has the world’s best No. 6 to help achieve that. Rodri fits seamlessly; he knows La Liga well, having played for Villarreal, Atlético Madrid, and Manchester City, and shares a World Cup-winning bond with many teammates.

Rodri also fills the leadership void left by veterans Iñigo Martínez and Ronald Araújo, something Flick values highly.

The Losers

Frenkie de Jong

De Jong’s summer has been rough. After the Netherlands exited the World Cup in the round of 32, he suffered a serious MCL injury. Now sidelined, he must watch Rodri take his likely spot in Barcelona’s midfield.

Rodri will probably partner with Pedri in Flick’s double pivot, a position De Jong held before his injury. Even when De Jong returns, Rodri’s presence makes reclaiming a starting role tough. De Jong already faced competition from Gavi last season, and now the challenge grows with Rodri’s arrival.

Gavi

Since returning from an ACL injury in March, Gavi had regained his spot, especially with De Jong sidelined. But Rodri’s signing pushes him back toward the bench.

Flick admires Gavi and supports him, so the Spaniard will likely still get minutes, mainly in Copa del Rey matches or less critical La Liga games, but consistent starts will be harder to come by.

Real Madrid

Where Barcelona benefits, Real Madrid suffers. The 15-time European champions were the front-runners to sign Rodri this summer. Born in Madrid, Rodri had flirted with joining Los Blancos before Barcelona swooped in.

Madrid hoped Rodri would replace Toni Kroos but are once again left without a deep-lying playmaker for the third straight season. The only midfield addition this summer was Bernardo Silva, Rodri’s former Manchester City teammate, but that may not solve their ongoing midfield problems.

Manager José Mourinho faces an internal challenge to fix the midfield ahead if Madrid wants to remain competitive for the title.