Rodri, a blockbuster signing

Rodri appears close to joining Barcelona, a move that would leave Manchester City without the midfielder who has defined their balance and consistency since 2019. The Community Shield defeat to Arsenal underlined his importance, with City unable to control the match in his absence. Data from BeSoccer Pro shows City have won 71.5% of their 298 games with Rodri, losing only 12.1%, while averaging 2.4 goals scored and 0.84 conceded. Without him, their win rate drops to 62.8%, defeats rise to 25.6%, scoring falls to 2.27 and goals conceded climb to 1.05.

The Premier League numbers are similarly stark: City’s win rate falls from 71.4% to 60% without Rodri, and their points‑per‑game average drops by 0.39. His influence extends to Spain, who concede more and win less when he is missing. As City brace for his departure, Barcelona prepare to welcome a transformative midfield presence.