19/08/2026
Rodri: "The first thing I would like to say is that I'm very happy to be here and to be with you today, on such a special day for me, my loved ones, and my family."
"I had another option, but for me, Barça was the first choice."
"It's a new chapter and an extremely important one in my career. The decision was difficult, first because it meant leaving Manchester City, the club that gave me everything. I thank them for understanding that this was the right time for me to leave and for making the departure process easier."
"Barça is a great club, and for me, it has always been a global reference because of its footballing philosophy and vision, as well as the values it represents. Barça was my first choice, and I made that very clear to Deco, Joan Laporta, and the rest of the board. I'm happy to be here."
"I'm very happy. Obviously, I've just seen them again after spending almost two months with most of them at the World Cup. So, they gave me a very warm welcome. I think it's a very young dressing room, with a lot of enthusiasm and a huge desire to achieve important things, and I think they've welcomed me wonderfully."
"I simply hope I can make the contribution I was brought here to make. As for the dressing room, I'm joining a completely united and enthusiastic group."
"I think it's a very young dressing room, full of enthusiasm and a great desire to achieve important things, and they've given me a fantastic welcome. I simply hope I can make the contribution I was brought here to make. I'm delighted to be joining a completely united and enthusiastic squad."
"Yes, I've spoken with Hansi, and above all, he made it clear how excited he is about my arrival. Ultimately, he's a coach I'm extremely motivated to work under, with a mentality and a style of play that are incredibly brave, which really appeal to me at this stage of my career and can still give me so much."
"I think I'm a player who still has room to improve, and I believe he can refine my abilities even further in that regard. I've been in more contact with Deco and Joan Laporta than with the coach, but he's an extremely straightforward coach who looks you in the eye and tells you directly what he expects from you."
"So, it's clear that this is part of the role, bringing the experience that the team perhaps needs most at the moment and making use of everything I've learned and experienced over all these years."
"I'll try not only to contribute through what I bring as a player, but also to have a positive influence on my teammates and provide the added value that is expected of me."
"Julián Álvarez? I try to be very cautious when talking about players from other teams. I have a lot of respect for Atlético Madrid, and he's one of their players. Deco and the board will do everything in their power to strengthen the team."
"Busquets? I understand the comparison because of the position. We share some characteristics in that role, while others are different. For me, he's a great friend and a role model."
"Barça's ambition doesn't depend solely on my arrival. Ultimately, this is a team that has been evolving and growing tremendously over the past few years."
"They've managed to win two consecutive LaLiga titles, despite how difficult that is, and in Europe they were only one step away from achieving the objective, which is winning the long-awaited Champions League."
"I believe this is a team experiencing fascinating and extremely significant growth."
"Ultimately, one of the reasons I came here isn't just about the present, but also about the vision for the future and the development of this project in many different areas."
"And as I mentioned, for me, the midfield that Barça has always taken such pride in is incredible, but I think we have exceptional players in every area of the pitch."
"I believe this is a team to which I'll try to bring that desire to keep improving."
