Barcelona have strengthened their midfield with the signing of Rodri, a 30-year-old midfielder who won the 2024 Ballon d'Or. The signing is seen as a statement of intent by manager Hansi Flick, who has guided Barça to back-to-back LaLiga titles in his two years with the club. Rodri joins former City teammates João Cancelo and adds to earlier additions of Anthony Gordon, Karim Adeyemi, and Jesse Bisiwu. Barça still want a No. 9 striker, with Atlético Madrid's Julián Álvarez remaining their main target. The signing of Rodri has raised hopes of success this season, with Barça looking to win a LaLiga three-peat and the Champions League crown.