When both teams face each other on the field, tension and excitement overflow, but the final whistle never means the end of the endless match that Barça and Real Madrid play at the highest level in all football sectors. The two giants also fight in the economic and social spheres, as well as recently in the judicial arena, with the ultimate goal of succeeding in the sporting field. The transfer market, more intertwined than ever between the two, is the latest example of their eternal battle. Blaugranas and whites have been eyeing each other all summer, inquiring, raising prices, and even sabotaging operations of their archrival, such as the case of Rodri, who is heading to Camp Nou.
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The Madrid native, 30 years old, has been on Madrid’s radar since May, when presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme promised his signing if he won the elections. Florentino Pérez, who was not very keen on signing the Manchester City player, especially after the player joined the rival candidacy, changed his mind after Rodri’s excellent World Cup, where he was champion and MVP of the tournament. His arrival also allowed for expanding the limited number of national players on the team. Everything seemed destined for the midfielder’s arrival at the Bernabéu, who was also a key piece to assemble a white midfield very lacking in creative players who bring balance and order to the game.
The whites signed the fullback amid Barça’s interest and announced a strange offer of 150 million for Atlético’s player
Some took his signing for granted, a matter of days, but then Barça’s interest emerged, which changed everything. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner ruled out Madrid to explore the Barcelona route. The blaugranas, despite having an excess of midfielders with a similar profile, have gone after Rodri. The unofficial reason is De Jong’s absence, sidelined for several months due to a knee injury, although no one overlooks that Madrid’s interest may have influenced.
The fight for Rodri is the latest summer saga featuring Barça and Madrid. In May, the leading roles were reversed with Marc Cucurella. The Catalan club showed interest in Alella’s player’s situation but without addressing contractual or salary issues. The possible return of the youth academy player, willing to come back, depended on several variables that required time, including the sale of Balde, and in that context, the Madrid side counterattacked with a lightning deal. The whites paid 55 million, plus five variables, to Chelsea for the fullback despite having Mendy and Carreras in that position, for whom they paid 60 million to Benfica last year. Madrid, which did not contribute any player to Spain in the World Cup, hurried to announce the signing hours before the national team’s debut, although for FIFA the Catalan was still officially a blue during the tournament.
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More unlikely was Madrid’s sporadic interference with Julián Álvarez. Florentino Pérez announced before winning the elections that he would offer 150 million for a star and, against all odds, he was referring to Atlético’s striker, widely recognized as Barça’s main target in the market. The Chamartín entity issued an unusual statement confirming the offer for the Argentine and at the same time the refusal of the rojiblancos. With no further interest in the forward, that maneuver was interpreted by many as a way to raise the price.
With almost a month left before the market closes, Barça and Real Madrid have already clashed three times. The story is not new. Vinícius, Luis Suárez, Neymar, Beckham, and even Di Stéfano have pitted the two clubs against each other over a signing.
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