The signing of Rodri is, without question, one of the most significant pieces of business any club has conducted this summer. The World Cup-winning midfielder brings elite game management, positional intelligence and a winning mentality that Barcelona have sorely lacked since the peak years of their dynasty.
His arrival gives Hansi Flick a genuine on-field organiser, the kind of player who controls tempo, protects the defence and makes everyone around him better. It is a superb signing, but there are still flaws.
The most glaring issue is the striking department. Robert Lewandowski’s departure has left a void that the club has spectacularly failed to fill. Their obsession with Julian Alvarez is understandable, the Argentine is one of the best forwards in Europe, but Atletico Madrid have made their position abundantly clear. He is not for sale, at any price, under any circumstances.
Barcelona must accept that and move on, because walking into the new Champions League campaign without a recognised world-class centre-forward is a serious problem.
At the back, questions linger too. Hansi Flick’s ultra-high defensive line is breathtaking when it works, but it demands defenders of the highest tactical intelligence.
It is no coincidence that Barcelona have been linked with Aymeric Laporte; that profile of calm, left-footed, reading-of-the-game centre-back is exactly what is needed alongside the outstanding Pau Cubarsi.
Without that addition, the system remains exposed against teams with the pace and directness to punish the space in behind.
Rodri unquestionably makes Barcelona stronger, placing them alongside PSG and perhaps Arsenal as genuine Champions League contenders. However, a striker and a centre-back are still needed before the transfer window closes, and the clock is ticking.
