According to Radio Marca's David Sanchez, the arrival of the Spain midfielder is being compared in scale to Barcelona's capture of Samuel Eto'o under Joan Laporta in 2003.
Sanchez described Rodri as "the best defensive midfielder in the world" and said his signing should make an already strong Barcelona midfield even more formidable under Hansi Flick, with the club's supporters hoping the deal proves the missing piece in a push for a sixth Champions League title.
With the World Cup winner's arrival now secured, Barcelona's sporting department is turning its focus to strengthening the forward line. Alvarez remains the club's first-choice target, though Sanchez described a deal for the Atletico Madrid striker as "practically impossible" given the financial complexity involved.
Should that pursuit fail, sporting director Deco is prepared to move through a list of alternatives, with Ayoze Perez understood to be the name currently favoured by Flick's coaching staff.
The 33-year-old Villarreal forward has a contract at the Estadio de la Ceramica until 2028 and a release clause in the region of €30million, though that figure is understood to be negotiable. Perez, who was La Liga's top-scoring Spaniard as recently as the 2024-25 season with 19 goals and won the Zarra Trophy that year, is reportedly open to pushing for a move to Camp Nou if Barcelona make an approach.
Barcelona are not thought to be willing to trigger Perez's release clause in full, and would instead look to negotiate a fee closer to €10-15million with Villarreal directly.
No formal agreement between the two clubs currently exists, leaving the move firmly in the category of an option rather than a concluded deal, but Perez's profile, comfortable playing centrally or drifting from the left, fits the mobile, high-pressing forward Flick wants leading his attack this season.
Barcelona's need for a recognised number nine has grown since the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres this summer, leaving Flick without an obvious central striker heading into the club's league opener against Elche.
An earlier target, Bournemouth forward Junior Kroupi, fell away after the English club valued him at more than €100million and rejected two Barcelona offers, before a fractured metatarsal ruled him out for several months regardless.