Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City to sign Rodri in a deal valued at around €76.5 million.

The Spain international is expected to arrive in the Catalan capital later today before undergoing his medical at the club’s facilities tomorrow.

The plan is for Rodri to be presented at Camp Nou during the Joan Gamper Trophy clash against Al Hilal.

Now, according to Fabrizio Romano, Rodri is set to receive a very familiar shirt number at Barcelona, with the No. 16 jersey currently available.

Rodri specifically requested that number during contract talks with the club, and Barcelona have chosen to honour that request.

The timing of the number becoming free could hardly have been better, with Fermin moving to the No. 7 shirt after Ferran Torres’ departure left it vacant.

For Rodri, the significance of that number is clear.

The Spanish midfielder has worn No. 16 throughout his Manchester City career, having chosen it when he joined from Atletico Madrid in 2019.

It is also the number linked to him at international level. He wore Spain’s No. 16 when lifting the World Cup around a month ago.

So, with Barcelona set to hand him 16, Rodri will not need to create a new identity at his new club.

The number had belonged to Fermin at Barcelona, but his switch to No. 7 has conveniently opened up that vacancy just as Rodri closes in on becoming a Barcelona player.

Had the Spanish attacking midfielder wanted to keep that shirt number, it might have been rather awkward to ask him to give it up for an incoming signing.

However, Fermin appears to have had no issue in taking the iconic No. 7, previously worn by many Barcelona legends.

Aesthetically, it is difficult to argue against Rodri wearing No. 16. The only other possible option may have been giving him No. 5, a shirt already held by Pau Cubarsi.

There is also something appropriate about Fermin taking another step forward with a more prominent number while an experienced new arrival potentially inherits the shirt he leaves behind.

Of course, squad numbers are interesting and help sell shirts, but their importance on the pitch is minimal.

Rodri brings control, composure and intelligence to the midfield, and that will not change whether he wears 16, 6 or 26 on his back.

However, beyond the sporting aspect alone, football is also about image and marketing.

Certain players become inseparable from certain numbers, and after seven years of wearing 16 at Manchester City, Rodri has made it his own.

With Barcelona signing a Ballon d’Or winner, they had to give him the jersey number he wanted, and the club will be thankful to Fermin for being gracious enough to accept the change.

It now remains to be seen how the Catalans’ new No. 16 performs over the coming seasons.