Barcelona’s marquee summer acquisition Rodri is ramping up his preparations for competitive action after training with the full squad for the first time on Monday. The 30-year-old midfielder, signed from Manchester City for €76.5 million including add-ons, could feature against Athletic Club on Thursday in a rescheduled La Liga fixture at Spotify Camp Nou.
Rodri’s staggered return to Barcelona action
Rodri joined Barcelona’s pre-season in limited capacity following his World Cup success with Spain and a minor back operation. Manager Hansi Flick had previously outlined a careful integration plan, with the midfielder training separately last week before progressing to group work alongside players who featured minimally or not at all in the Elche opener.
The session structure saw key starters undertake recovery instead, with only Raphinha, Fermin Lopez, Karim Adeyemi and Pedri—all of whom had limited involvement at Estadio Manuel Martinez Valero—joining Rodri on the pitch at the Tito Vilanova training ground.
Thursday’s Athletic Club fixture within reach
The postponed fixture against Athletic Club represents an ideal opportunity for Rodri’s first official appearance. Barcelona originally delayed the match because multiple players remained unavailable following World Cup commitments, meaning the clash now coincides perfectly with the midfielder’s return to full training.
Rodri has not yet featured in either the Gamper Trophy or the season-opening loss to Elche, but his progression into team training signals readiness is approaching quickly.
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What Rodri’s timing reveals about Barcelona’s window strategy
Barcelona invested heavily in securing Rodri ahead of Real Madrid, viewing the World Cup Player of the Tournament as essential to elevating their midfield. At 30 and a former Ballon d’Or recipient, the Spaniard arrives with proven pedigree and captaincy experience rather than long-term resale value. The club’s willingness to move him directly into competitive fixtures, despite incomplete pre-season exposure, underscores confidence in his quality and indicates Barcelona sees him as an immediate solution to midfield depth rather than a prospect requiring lengthy adaptation.
His €76.5 million fee makes him the window’s standout signing for the Catalan club, reports Mundo Deportivo. Whether he features this week depends on Flick’s assessment of his match-sharpness, but the pathway into the Athletic Club encounter has now opened.
