Rodri seals transfer to Barcelona after seven-year stint at Man City - ESPN

Barcelona have completed the signing of Manchester City midfielder Rodri in a transfer worth an initial €60 million (£51m / $69m), the two clubs have confirmed.

City could make an additional €16.5m (£14m / $19m) on the deal if a series of add-ons, related to Rodri's achievements at Barça, are met in the coming years.

Rodri, 30, has agreed a four-year deal with the Spanish champions, and sources told ESPN he turned down an approach from Real Madrid to push through the move to Spotify Camp Nou.

«I am so happy to be here. It's a really special day, a new, important chapter in my career,» he said at his unveiling.

«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. I appreciate how they facilitated my exit.

»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 Barça was the first option and I told the board here that."

The Spain captain, who was named the Player of the Tournament as La Roja won the World Cup this summer, bolsters a midfield which already includes Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal, Dani Olmo and Fermín López.

Barça had not begun the summer desperate to sign a midfielder but moved quickly to bring in Rodri, who had just one year to run on his contract at City, once it became clear he was available.

With De Jong set for a spell on the sideline injured and coach Hansi Flick keen to add more leaders to the squad, Rodri was viewed as a «statement signing,» a source said, who can help Barça improve immediately.

«We need players with this leadership on the pitch,» Flick said in April despite winning back-to-back LaLiga titles. «This is important