Barcelona prepares Rodri for first starting appearance

Barcelona plans to integrate new signing Rodri into the starting lineup for upcoming matches. The 30-year-old midfielder has previously made two appearances for the club as a substitute in wins against Athletic Club and Rayo Vallecano. Barcelona signed the player from Manchester City for a fee of €60 million plus add-ons during the summer transfer window. Head coach Hansi Flick is expected to field Rodri against Valencia on Sunday or during the Champions League match against Feyenoord next Wednesday. The starting shift will likely result in a reduced role for Barcelona academy graduate Marc Bernal as the club balances squad rotation. These roster adjustments aim to maintain momentum for both the domestic title defense and the European competition schedule.

• 10:30 AMYahoo Sports — Barcelona Has Made A Key Decision On New Signing Rodri