Rodri to Barcelona — New El Clásico Plan Emerges

If Barcelona Sign Rodri, Could Manchester City Fans help Barca troll Vinícius Jr. at El Clásico?

A fresh social media rumour has sparked debate across football, claiming that Manchester City supporters will hand Barcelona fans a giant Rodri Ballon d'Or banner to display during El Clásico—if Rodri eventually joins Barcelona.

On the banner, is written: "STOP CRYING YOUR HEART OUT" with World Cup winner passionately kissing his Ballon d'Or

The alleged plan has one clear target: Vinícius Júnior.

According to the rumour, Barcelona supporters would unveil the banner at the Santiago Bernabéu to remind Real Madrid fans that Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d'Or ahead of Vinícius, potentially creating one of the most controversial moments in El Clásico history.

It is important to note that there is currently no credible evidence on the execution of this plan, but such rumours cannot be totally ignored

The speculation appears to have grown from a real incident.

Before Manchester City's Champions League meeting with Real Madrid in February 2025, City supporters unveiled a huge tifo of Rodri kissing the Ballon d'Or. The display quickly went viral, with many believing it mocked Vinícius after the Brazilian narrowly missed out on football's biggest individual prize.

However, the City supporters' group behind the banner later insisted it was primarily aimed at Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, not Vinícius himself.

That has not stopped fans from imagining what could happen if Rodri were ever to wear Barcelona colours.

A Rodri move to Barça would already be one of the biggest transfers in recent years. Adding a Ballon d'Or banner to an El Clásico atmosphere would almost certainly inflame one of football's fiercest rivalries.

For now, though, it remains nothing more than fan speculation.

But if Barcelona ever sign Rodri, don't be surprised if supporters look for creative ways to turn one of football's biggest individual awards into another chapter of the El Clásico mind games.