Rodri takes parting shot at Arsenal as £65m Barcelona move confirmed

Rodri has departed Manchester City for Barcelona in a £65million deal, signing a four-year contract with the La Liga club — and the 30-year-old used his farewell letter to City supporters to take one final swipe at Arsenal.

The Spain midfielder, who won the Ballon d’Or during his seven seasons at the Etihad, singled out his controversial stoppage-time goal that gave City a 2-1 victory at the Emirates in 2022 as one of the moments he cherishes most. “Many incredible moments come to my mind,” Rodri wrote. “My first trophy at City, in my first game. The last-minute winners, like Arsenal away. Scoring in the Villa game to reach the Premier League, when it looked so tough.”

He also referenced City’s Champions League triumph and their historic treble, signing off with a pointed line: “We saw things they’ll never see.”

It is not the first time Rodri has aimed a dig at Arsenal. After City’s Premier League title win in 2024 — one of two occasions under Pep Guardiola in which City edged out Mikel Arteta’s side in the title race — he suggested the Gunners had a “mentality” problem. Arsenal did eventually claim the title in May, but Rodri made no mention of that in his goodbye.

The move to Barcelona, confirmed on Tuesday, saw Rodri snub interest from Real Madrid to return to Spain. At his unveiling, he was candid about the difficulty of the decision. “It was a tough decision. Firstly because I was leaving City, who gave me everything. I was really happy there and will always be grateful,” he said. “Barcelona has always been a reference for me because of the values and the playing style here. It’s true I had another offer, but Barca was the first option.”

Rodri arrives at the Camp Nou fresh from anchoring Spain’s World Cup triumph and is expected to significantly strengthen Hansi Flick’s squad. His presence immediately elevates Barcelona among the favourites for the Champions League, having already lifted the trophy with City in 2023 as part of their treble-winning campaign. A reunion with Arsenal in the competition remains a distinct possibility.