Rodri has been unveiled as Barcelona’s latest summer signing and says that the club were always his first choice after he decided to leave Manchester City.
The Spain star has signed a four-year contract at the Camp Nou and says that while there interest from other clubs, including Real Madrid, he only wanted Barcelona.
“I’d like to say that I’m very happy to be here. It’s a very special day, a very important new chapter in my career. It was a tough decision. First, because I’m leaving Manchester City, a club that has given me everything and where I’ve been incredibly happy,” he said.
“I’ll be eternally grateful. I’m also grateful that they understood it was a good time to leave. Barcelona is a fantastic club, a global benchmark for its approach to football and the values it represents. I had other options, but Barcelona was my first choice, and I made that clear to Laporta.”
Rodri went on to reveal how he spoke with Hansi Flick and is a big fan of the way he has his current Barcelona team playing.
“I spoke with Hansi. He conveyed his enthusiasm to me. I’m very motivated to train with him; he has a very bold style of play, which appeals to me a lot. I still have room for improvement, and he can help me develop further. He’s a transparent coach; he tells you what he expects from you. He brings the experience the team needs. I want to inspire my teammates and contribute,” he added.
The new signing also had praise for new team-mate Marc Bernal and says he will do all he can to pass on his experience to the youngster.
“I’m a 30-year-old player with experience that many players on this team don’t have. I’m here to contribute, to share my knowledge with my teammates,” he explained.
“Marc has shown spectacular progress; he’s made an incredible recovery from his injury. I hope to help him as much as I can and teach him what I think is important. He’ll be able to grow alongside me, and that’s what matters.”
Rodri also spoke about comparisons with Barca legend Sergio Busquets and admits there are similarities.
“I said it back then. He’s been a great role model. I understand the comparison because of our position and style. It’s a privilege,” he said.
“We have different characteristics and things in common. I’ve always admired him and tried to learn from him. Now he’s with the reserve team, so I’ll see him a bit more. A great friend, teammate, and role model.”
Barca’s new signing will get to see plenty more of Busquets now, with the former star back at the club and working as an assistant coach at Barca Atletic.