According to Marca, the standout World Cup performer is on the verge of joining Barcelona, a double blow for Real Madrid: losing their coveted midfield maestro and watching him join their eternal rivals.

The transfer market has undergone a dramatic shift in the last 12 hours, with Rodri at the center of the storm. Like in ancient mythology, two giants are vying for the same prize, and the "treasure" that seemed destined for the Bernabéu has suddenly slipped away, as Barcelona has overtaken Real Madrid in the race to sign Rodri. Most critically, Real Madrid is now closer to walking away from the deal than completing it, effectively losing a two-time Ballon d'Or winner. If Barcelona gets the last laugh, this summer's landscape will be rewritten.

After weeks of back-and-forth negotiations, Real Madrid and Manchester City have consistently failed to reach agreement over the standout performer from the last World Cup. Barcelona, however, has suddenly entered from left field, and the player has already given his blessing to Barcelona's sports department, ready to join Flick's project. This effectively spells the end for Madrid's pursuit. With news that De Jong may require surgery, Barcelona has accelerated its efforts, seeking a reliable replacement in midfield.

Should this deal materialize, Barcelona's stunning coup would deliver a crushing double blow to Real Madrid. Madrid and its supporters were tantalizingly close to landing a world-class midfielder who could have immediately addressed their midfield shortage over the past two seasons—particularly their lack of a playmaker capable of controlling the game and orchestrating attacks. If this crucial piece instead dons blaugrana and, worse still, plays for their eternal rivals, the Bernabéu faithful will be devastated.

Until now, Real Madrid's summer recruitment has been nearly flawless. The club has bolstered almost every position in need, recently securing Côte d'Ivoire's Jan-Diomande to strengthen their right wing. The announcement of the Ivorian's signing came just hours after news broke of the stalled Rodri deal, and today concluded with the welcome news of Vinicius Jr. signing a contract extension through 2032.

Yet these two pieces of good news cannot offset the disappointment caused by the midfield crisis. Without a playmaker to orchestrate the team, an impressive squad on paper will quickly falter. Real Madrid fans already sense this. On social media, as Madrid falls behind in the Rodri race and Barcelona moves ahead, early celebrations of Diomande's arrival quickly gave way to desperate calls for Rodri.

Whenever problems arise, people naturally turn to alternatives, but this time options are severely limited. Players of Rodri's caliber are rare on the market, and at the end of August, even fewer clubs are willing to part with them. With less than a month remaining, it remains to be seen whether Real Madrid will act decisively to resolve this issue, or once again pin their hopes on a stopgap solution, as they have done over the past two seasons.

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