FC Barcelona has officially moved to “freeze” the potential exit of 20-year-old winger Dani Rodriguez, bringing an abrupt end to negotiations that seemed destined to take him to Croatia.

Despite a month of speculation and heavy interest from abroad, the Blaugrana hierarchy has decided to retain the academy graduate to ensure squad depth for both the first team and Juliano Belletti’s reserve side.

Dinamo Zagreb’s Pursuit Falls Short

For the past few weeks, Dinamo Zagreb appeared to be the frontrunners to secure Rodriguez on a loan deal.

The Croatian giants leveraged Rodriguez’s close friendship with former teammate Sergi Dominguez to lure him to the Stadion Maksimir, offering the enticing prospect of Europa League football.

For the player, the move represented a chance to jump from the Spanish fourth division to a top-tier European league.

While Rodriguez was reportedly open to the move due to limited first-team minutes under Hansi Flick, Barcelona ultimately closed the door on the transaction.

Squad Depth Concerns at the Ciutat Esportiva

The decision to block Rodriguez’s exit stems from a series of recent departures.

With Mamadou Mbacke and Andres Cuenca already leaving the club this winter, Barcelona officials are unwilling to further weaken the reserve squad.

Furthermore, Hansi Flick remains a vocal admirer of the winger’s profile.

With the second half of the season often bringing a high risk of injuries, the board views Rodriguez as a vital “insurance policy” for the first-team attack.

Internal reports suggest that Flick believes the 20-year-old could be called upon for senior minutes if the frontline faces any fatigue or fitness issues.

Summer Review and Contract Status

Dani Rodriguez is currently under contract at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys until June 2027.

While his immediate future is secured in Catalonia, the situation is expected to be revisited during the summer transfer window.

Barring any last-minute surprises before the January deadline, Barcelona intends to sit down with the player’s representatives in the coming months to discuss a potential contract extension, depending on his progression and involvement with the first team throughout the remainder of the 2025/26 campaign.