Barcelona have secured a coup from under Spanish rivals Real Madrid’s nose, luring World Cup-winning captain Rodri; while Vinicius Junior has made the call on a huge bid from Arsenal.
All that and more in the latest edition of Football Daily.
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The Golden Ball winner’s return home to Spain after an extraordinary stint with Manchester City in the Premier League seemed destined to be with Los Blancos, who heavily pursued the 30-year old ahead of the final year of his City contract.
However, when talks stalled, Barcelona received Rodri’s permission to begin negotiating with the Premier League powerhouse on a deal to become the powerhouse’s latest superstar.
According to Spanish sports program El Larguero, Rodri’s agent Barquero has confirmed Rodri’s choice, having told Real Madrid he will instead be joining Barca.
He will sign on until 2030 on a reported 15 million euros per year.
Rodri’s transfer fee is as yet undisclosed, but reports state that City were willing to accept 60 million euros from Barcelona.
The midfielder has become one of the best footballers in the world.
He claimed the Ballon d’Or in 2024 in addition to his World Cup Golden Ball win in Spain’s triumph last month.
He is a World Cup and Euros winner for Spain, while at club level, he won an unprecedented four successive Premier League titles with Manchester City from 2020/21- 2023/24.
He also won the 2022/23 Champions League crown and the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup.
The veteran’s signing is a major boost for Barcelona as they look for a third consecutive La Liga title and a deep run in Europe, having last won a Champions League title in 2015.
Rodri is unlikely to be fit for the start of the La Liga season, having undergone minor back surgery following Spain’s World Cup triumph.
VINICIUS MAKES CALL ON GUNNERS BID
Brazilian icon Vinicius Junior has snubbed a blockbuster move from Premier League champions Arsenal to re-commit to Real Madrid.
Los Blancos have announced a new six-year deal for the star forward, which follows signing of teenage sensation Yan Diomande in a major boost to their quest to end a two-year trophy drought.
Vinicius’ decision quells speculation linking him to Arsenal, and is a win for Real as they rebuild their squad in Jose Mourinho’s second spell in charge.
“Real Madrid FC and Vinicius Jr have agreed the extension of the contract of our player, who is tied to the club until June 30, 2032,” Los Blancos said in a statement.
The 26-year-old had one year left on his previous deal, with the Gunners making him a transfer target while his future at Real seemed uncertain.
Vinicius has become a core member of Real Madrid’s squad since arriving eight years ago aged 18, and has made decisive contributions to the club’s success in that time.
He has scored 128 goals in 375 games and lifted multiple trophies, including two Champions League titles and three La Liga crowns.
But the Spanish giants have fallen on fallow times in the past two seasons, picking up no major trophies while eternal rivals Barcelona secured back-to-back La Liga titles.
Vinicius, French superstar Kylian Mbappe, England midfielder Jude Bellingham and Rodrygo are set to be accompanied by Diomande in a bolstered Real attack next season.
The club unveiled the signing of the 19-year-old Ivory Coast winger from Leipzig for what Spanish media reported was a club-record fee of 140 million euros including bonuses.
Los Blancos said in a statement that the deal with the Bundesliga side would keep Diomande in the Spanish capital “for the next seven seasons, until June 30, 2033”.
“Moving to Real Madrid is a childhood dream come true for me,” Diomande was quoted as saying in a Leipzig statement.
The young star said he was “incredibly grateful” to the German club, which “placed their trust in me and gave me the opportunity to prove myself at the highest level”.
Madrid, who did not disclose the transfer fee, beat Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool to the signing of Diomande, who played at the World Cup with his country.
PSG pulled out of the running because of concerns over the size of the transfer fee, while Liverpool reportedly had a bid rejected in June.
Diomande spent one season in the German top flight with Leipzig following a switch from Spanish side Leganes in 2025. He was the Bundesliga young player of the season, netting 12 goals and laying on eight assists.
Diomande is Madrid’s sixth signing this summer, following Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Espi.