According to Diario Sport, Barcelona are in talks with Manchester City and hope to finalize Rodri's transfer in the coming days.
If Rodri ultimately joins Barcelona, Flick's plans will not only include another world-class player in his position, but also a leader and a core player who can raise the team's ceiling. Barcelona might even "snatch" him from Real Madrid, who also need such a player to balance their midfield.
However, Rodri's arrival will impact some players in Barcelona's squad. The rotation will naturally change with the arrival of a player of his caliber. Frenkie de Jong will be the first to be affected. The Dutch midfielder played through injury for the national team at the World Cup this summer and is just beginning to recover from a serious knee injury. But when he receives medical clearance in a few months, his previously almost guaranteed starting position will become even more difficult to maintain.
Flick's waning trust in De Jong over the past few months won't help him either. Towards the end of last season, De Jong prioritized the World Cup over Barcelona, playing despite knee discomfort. The Barcelona coaching staff and medical team were very unhappy with this decision, which will obviously affect subsequent player selections.
Rodri's arrival will also primarily affect Marc Casado. Flick made it clear to him at the end of last season that the best option was to seek other opportunities, but the academy graduate, as he himself stated in an interview with Diario Sport, still dreams of success at the Camp Nou. The club's intention is to sell him, and it seems highly likely he will move to Saudi Arabia. Due to Flick's decision, he will also miss Udinese's triangular match.
Before the summer transfer window closes, another La Masia player likely to leave is Tommy Marquez, assuming the situation remains unchanged. The 19-year-old midfielder needs playing time, and under current plans, he will be part of Deco's new strategy: Barcelona will try to include a buy-back clause in his sale, both to generate cash and to maintain control over his future. He has already attracted interest from several clubs.
While the young player may seem to be affected by Rodri's move to Barcelona, there's reason to believe the opposite is true. Yes, it might limit his development in the short term, but Rodri will also be an excellent mentor to the 19-year-old. Moreover, Bernal has already demonstrated his goal-scoring ability at La Masia and in the first team last season, so he could potentially compete with the World Cup MVP, or even move up a position.
As for Pedri and Gave, both are indispensable starters for Flick. Rodri's arrival will undoubtedly impact the team's system, but more often than not, they will also benefit from it.
