Rodri Set to Miss Barcelona's La Liga Opener

Barcelona’s most eye-catching summer signing is unlikely to be on the pitch when their La Liga season kicks off on Sunday.

Rodri sat out full group training on Saturday, the final session before Barça face Elche in their opening league fixture, casting serious doubt over his availability for the debut many expected to see this weekend.

According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the midfielder did not join his teammates for the main part of the session and remained off the pitch during the 15 minutes open to the media. With that limited involvement, his presence in the first league game is now described as “highly complicated”.

The pattern is worrying for those hoping for an immediate impact. Rodri trained alone on Friday, then followed the same individual routine on Saturday, never fully integrating with the group.

Barring a late twist, Marca reports that his first appearance in a Barcelona shirt will be delayed by a few more days.

The timing adds a twist to what had been a whirlwind week. Rodri arrived on Monday, was unveiled as a new Barcelona player on Tuesday, and instantly became the headline addition of the club’s summer window.

Now, instead of dominating the opening day, he may have to watch it unfold from the sidelines and wait a little longer for his first taste of La Liga in Barcelona colours.