With a slight delay from the scheduled time, past eight in the evening, Rodri landed at El Prat airport amid great media anticipation. The player, unlike on other occasions and as already happened in the morning with Cancelo, had no problem posing for photographers and making brief statements before heading to a city hotel to dine with FC Barcelona officials before being presented as the new blaugrana player in the coming hours. His initial message was emphatic: “These have been very intense days but I am very happy, playing for Barça is a dream and I am eager to meet my teammates, some of whom I already know, and to get to work. The Champions League? I come to win everything that lies ahead.”
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Rodri, who traveled on a private plane from Manchester, will be presented throughout tomorrow (the club’s plan is from 1 p.m.) in a closed event held in a commercial area near Spotify Camp Nou. After considering opening the stadium doors, the club’s idea was discarded due to the difficulty involved with the comprehensive renovation works of the stadium. The player will undergo a medical examination early in the day and then will sign the new contract theoretically in the company of president Joan Laporta.
According to what has emerged in recent hours, Rodri will wear number 16 at Barça, the lucky number throughout his career, with Fermín taking the ‘7’ that until now belonged to Ferran Torres. The arrival of the 30-year-old player has generated great excitement among Barcelona fans due to the player’s weight in current football: Ballon d’Or in 2024 and best player of the World Cup that Spain just won with him acting as captain.
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Rodri will participate on Wednesday in the Gamper festival in his first contact with the blaugrana fans. The match against Egyptian Al-Ahly will start at eight in the evening but from seven the entire squad will be presented, and it will be there where Rodri can greet from the Camp Nou pitch before starting his first training sessions with his new teammates from Thursday onwards.
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