And that in itself is important. Rodri is not just an excellent defensive midfielder. He is one of those footballers who can determine the pace of a match without having to constantly be in the big phases. He sees spaces before they are created, knows when to accelerate and when to "freeze" the game and can provide balance to an entire team.

So it does not surprise me that Barcelona presented him as the man who controls space and time. Football-wise, that's probably the best description of him. For him, of course, it's closing a huge chapter.

Seven years at Manchester City can't be erased with a transfer announcement. There he became one of the top midfielders in the world, won championships, lived the historic Treble and scored the goal that gave City its first Champions League in its history.

His farewell to Manchester was, for me, perhaps the most human part of this transfer. He didn't just talk about trophies and victories. He remembered his teammates, Pep Guardiola, the city, his everyday life, even the Manchester rain.

And this detail says a lot. Now he's returning to Spain in a different role. He's not returning as a talented midfielder looking for recognition. He returns as the "Golden Ball" man, world champion and of course European champion and holder of a Champions League. And of course as a footballer who knows how championship teams are built.

For me, that's exactly what Barcelona bought with 75 million. Not just a footballer. They bought a leader, a brain and perhaps the most important part of their new center.