Barcelona midfielder Rodri has expressed reservations about labeling his current club as favorites to win this season’s UEFA Champions League. While the Blaugrana have started their quest for their first continental title since 2015 with a convincing 5-1 home victory over Feyenoord, Rodri maintains that the nature of the competition makes it difficult to predict a winner simply based on current form or status.
The Spanish international, who joined Barcelona this past summer in a transfer reported at €76.5 million from Manchester City, noted that the best side on paper does not always lift the trophy. His perspective on the team’s credentials reflects the inherent unpredictability of the tournament. During the recent opening match against Feyenoord, Rodri started the game before being substituted in the second half.
Since arriving at the Camp Nou, Rodri has made five appearances across all competitions. He recently completed his first full 90-minute match for the club in a 4-2 La Liga victory against Levante, where Lamine Yamal netted twice and Karim Adeyemi also scored. Despite this domestic success, the midfielder is still waiting to register his first goal or assist for the Catalan giants.
Rodri brings significant experience to Barcelona, having been a pivotal member of Manchester City’s 2023 continental treble-winning squad. During that triumphant campaign, he scored two goals in 12 appearances, including the decisive winner against Inter Milan in the final and a strike against Bayern Munich in the quarter-final first leg. Throughout his time at the Etihad Stadium between 2019 and 2026, the 2026 FIFA World Cup winner tallied three goals and three assists in Champions League play. The report also notes that which he won in 2023 as part of Manchester City’s continental treble, beating 2010 treble-winners Inter Milan 1-0 in the final, barcelona midfield maestro Rodri has a decent record in the UEFA Champions League. The report also notes that he said about the Blaugrana’s Champions League credentials (as per Mundo Deportivo via transfer guru Fabrizio Romano).
