Atletico Madrid and Villarreal to Benefit from Rodri's €75m Transfer to Barcelona
The transfer of Rodri from Manchester City to Barcelona for a staggering €75 million is set to deliver a financial boost to both Atletico Madrid and Villarreal. This is thanks to FIFA's solidarity mechanism, which awards a share of the transfer fee to clubs involved in a player's development.
Barcelona and Manchester City Reach Deal for Rodri
Barcelona and Manchester City have come to an agreement for the transfer of the Spanish midfielder. The deal reportedly involves an initial fixed fee of €65 million (£55m) with potential performance-related add-ons worth €10 million (£8.5m). Rodri, now 30, is expected to join the Catalan side this summer.
How Atletico Madrid Benefits
FIFA's solidarity rules require that 5% of any international transfer fee be shared among clubs responsible for training a player between ages 12 and 23. Having spent seven important years at Atletico Madrid’s academy before leaving at 17, the club will receive a minimum of €1.6 million (£1.3m) from the fixed part of the transfer. This amount could rise up to €2 million (£1.7m) if Rodri meets all performance clauses. Interestingly, Rodri’s first youth club, Rayo Majadahonda, will not receive anything since he left their setup before age 12.
Villarreal Also Set for a Payout
Villarreal, where Rodri spent five key years including two in youth squads and three in the first team, will also collect a portion of the solidarity payment. Rodri moved from Villarreal back to Atletico in 2018, then made a lucrative switch to City a year later. Now as he heads to Barcelona, Villarreal anticipate a welcome cash injection from this transfer.
Awaiting Official Confirmation
The exact details of Rodri’s move to Barcelona are still being finalized, with an official announcement expected soon. Head coach Hansi Flick is keen to include the experienced midfielder in his plans for a challenging season ahead across domestic and European competitions.
Meanwhile, both Atletico Madrid and Villarreal look forward to receiving their solidarity payments, which will assist them in wrapping up their summer transfer dealings before the window closes.
