Barcelona are preparing for a major midfield upgrade as Rodri closes in on his reported £65m move from Manchester City, but his arrival has already triggered a change inside the dressing room. The Ballon d’Or winner has requested his familiar No. 16 shirt, leaving Fermin Lopez to take over the No. 7 recently vacated by Ferran Torres following his move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Key Takeaways
- Rodri has reportedly requested the No. 16 shirt at Barcelona, the number he wore during his seven-year spell at Manchester City.
- Fermin Lopez will switch to No. 7, a number he has always liked and which was recently left vacant by Ferran Torres.
- Fermin hailed Rodri as the "best midfielder in the world" and believes he will bring plenty to Barcelona.
- Julian Alvarez remains linked with Barcelona, with Fermin admitting the Argentine striker would fit the club's style of play well.
Rodri’s Barcelona Arrival Sparks Shirt Number Shake-Up
After arriving in Barcelona to complete his reported £65m transfer, Rodri has reportedly asked to reclaim the No. 16 shirt he wore throughout his trophy-filled seven-year spell with Manchester City.
That request means Fermin Lopez must give up the number he has worn with the Barcelona first team. The 23-year-old midfielder will instead take the No. 7 shirt, which became available after Ferran Torres left for Paris Saint-Germain.
For Fermin, the change comes with mixed emotions. While he is delighted to take on a number with such a strong history at Barcelona, he admitted that leaving No. 16 behind is difficult after developing a personal connection with it.
"The number seven is a one that I've always liked and that has been worn by some of the greatest players in our history," Fermin told Diari Ara. "Since it was available, I asked for it and I'm very happy to wear it."
He added that giving up No. 16 is "a bit sad" because the number became special to him during his time with the first team, but he remains confident that it will now be "in good hands."
Fermin Hails Rodri as World’s Best Midfielder
Despite losing his No. 16 shirt, Fermin has nothing but praise for the man taking it over. The Barcelona midfielder already knows Rodri from the Spanish national team and believes the Ballon d’Or winner can make a major difference at Camp Nou.
With Barcelona preparing to begin their La Liga campaign against Elche at the Martinez Valero, Rodri's arrival gives Flick another elite option in the heart of midfield and a major boost to his tactical plans.
Fermin described Rodri as a Ballon d’Or winner and world champion, while going even further by calling him the best midfielder in the world.
"He's a great player. Ballon d'Or winner and world champion. I have him as a teammate on the national team and he's the best midfielder in the world. He's going to give us a lot," Fermin said.
Barcelona Still Linked With Julian Alvarez
Rodri may not be the only former Manchester City player on Barcelona's radar. Julian Alvarez continues to be linked with the Catalan club, with Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco reportedly identifying the Argentine forward as a major attacking target.
However, negotiations with Atletico Madrid remain complicated, leaving the potential transfer far from straightforward. Asked about the speculation, Fermin was careful not to get carried away given that Alvarez remains an Atletico player.
Still, the Barcelona midfielder suggested the striker would be a strong tactical fit at Camp Nou. "I like him, he's a great player, but ultimately he's an Atlético de Madrid player. I can't say much more," Fermin said. He then added: "I can only say that in our squad, with the way we play, I think he would fit in very well."
Fermin Bids Farewell to Ferran Torres
Fermin's move to the No. 7 shirt was made possible by Ferran Torres' departure to PSG in a deal worth approximately €50 million. The pair shared the Barcelona dressing room, and Fermin revealed that he personally contacted Torres after the transfer to wish his friend well.
While Fermin admitted that he was disappointed to see a good teammate leave, he emphasized that Torres' future was ultimately a personal decision. "These are personal decisions, and I don't have all the information, but for me it's a shame because he was a great teammate and a good player," Fermin said.
He also revealed that he had written to Torres to say goodbye, adding that there was no reason to pressure him into changing his mind. For now, Fermin Lopez moves forward with a new shirt number, while Rodri prepares to begin his next chapter at Barcelona.
