Clubs evaluate their new signings and departures as soon as the summer transfer window closes, to gauge how well they've met their goals of raising the team's competitive level.
اضافة اعلان
In Barcelona's case, the general impression is one of complete success in reinforcing various positions, both in sporting and personal terms, with the new arrivals bringing quality, good dynamism, and a positive atmosphere in the dressing room, a central element in coach Hansi Flick's and the club's philosophy.
According to Spanish newspaper Sport, the Rodri deal stands out as one of the biggest successes. Even though the position wasn't a top priority, the technical committee, led by Deco, proved the value of staying alert and cautious in the market and seizing such opportunities to strengthen the squad, while also denying a direct rival a player who represented the missing piece needed to complete its lineup.
Barcelona won the battle by signing the World Cup's best player and Ballon d'Or winner for a transfer fee between €60 and €70 million, well below his real market value, a major coup.
To replace Rodri, Manchester City spent €250 million to sign Elliot Anderson and Ayoub Bouaddi, though the player's own desire and priority to join Barcelona made the negotiations smoother.
What Will Rodri Bring to Barcelona?
First, his presence in the lineup noticeably raises the squad's quality, competitiveness, winning mentality, and technical strength. As the best player in the world in his position, he has an innate gift for choosing the right number of touches based on the demands of the attack, controlling timing and pace, whether accelerating or slowing things down, with natural instinct and fluidity.
Rodri's vision of the game is excellent and inventive in every direction, always aimed at areas that allow him to break lines, penetrate, and reach the opposition's goal.
He shows patience when switching the direction of play, unhurriedly seeking to stretch and wear down the opposing defense.
Thanks to his clear command of his zone, he breaks up compact defensive blocks with ease, a crucial trait given that Barcelona are almost always camped in the opposition's half and need to impose their dominance against deep-lying defensive teams.
Rodri's arrival has forced coach Hansi Flick to slightly adjust his system, blending a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 during matches, since Rodri needs to operate largely alone in front of the back line, controlling the central zone to bring out the best in his game.
As a result, Pedri, Fermín, Olmo, Gavi, and Bernal have taken on more advanced midfield roles, with Pedri making a greater presence felt inside the box and joining the race to finish attacks, while Fermín combines a right-midfield role with playing just behind the striker, a role Olmo and Gavi also share.
Frenkie de Jong is the player most affected by Rodri's arrival, given his previously defined role, but everyone complements Rodri well, as they're all marked by generosity, solidarity, and a preference for the team's interest over individual concerns.
On top of that, Barcelona gain added strength in defensive coverage and ball recovery with Rodri, without rushing decisions in defensive situations, showing an ability to anticipate and win the ball back, alongside the option to deploy him as a center-back when needed, push forward to join attacks, deliver powerful and accurate shots, and dominate aerial duels in both boxes.
Being surrounded by a group of players who help him bring out his full potential is a real asset for Rodri, while "balance" is perhaps the best word to describe him, marked by calmness and composure in transitions, without any slowness in execution, if anything, he enhances the fluidity of play.
Rodri's leadership qualities also stand out, making him a creative, demanding, and persuasive captain on the pitch, potentially serving as a direct extension of the coach both on the field and in the dressing room, drawing on his experience in big matches.
As a result, the team's overall quality and competitiveness have risen, making it more respected and formidable across all competitions.
Recourse: Al-Ghad.
