Barcelona in advanced negotiations to sign World Cup winner on a three-year deal, 30-year-old seen as rotational option - Reports

Barcelona are reportedly in advanced negotiations to sign Real Betis midfielder Guido Rodriguez in the summer.

According to reports by SPORT journalist Toni Juanmarti (via @BarcaTimes), the Catalans are set to offer Rodriguez, 30, a 2+1-year deal. The 2022 FIFA World Cup winner with Argentina is currently in the final few weeks of his contract, which expires at the end of the 2023-24 season.

The report added that Rodriguez is not being signed by Barcelona as their first-choice pivot. He is expected to be a rotational option, with the club reportedly still weighing up their options for a starting holding midfielder.

The Blaugrana have had to use Ilkay Gundogan and Andreas Christensen in that position this season after Oriol Romeu's struggles. Rodriguez could prove to be a useful squad addition, especially on a free transfer given the club's financial struggles in recent times.

The Argentine joined Betis in January 2020 and has been a key part of their team ever since. He has played 169 times for the Balompie across competitions, recording nine goals and four assists.

Prior to joining his current team, the Argentine spent three years at CF America, registering 12 goals and two assists in 123 matches. Rodriguez has also had spells at Tijuana in Mexico and Defensa and River Plate in Argentina.

He has won 29 caps for La Albiceleste, playing once during their victorious 2022 World Cup run.

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A look at Barcelona-linked Guido Rodriguez's 2023-24 season

Guido Rodriguez has endured a difficult 2023-24 season due to an ankle injury that sidelined him from mid-December all the way to early March. He has thus played just 25 matches across competitions this term, recording two goals and an assist.

Twenty of those appearances have come in La Liga, where Real Betis sit seventh. They have 48 points from 32 matches and are just three behind sixth-placed Real Sociedad, who have played a game more.

In those 20 matches, Rodriguez has averaged 1.3 interceptions, 1.9 tackles, 1.9 clearances, 4.7 duels won and 6.8 recoveries per game. The rumored Barcelona target has also completed 86% of his passes and averaged 1.6 fouls won per match.

The remainder of his five appearances came in the UEFA Europa League, where Betis finished third in their group, dropping down to the UEFA Europa Conference League. They exited the latter tournament in the intermediate stage.