Barcelona’s bid for Rodri rejected
Manchester City have turned down an initial offer from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri. The bid, reported to be around £40m by one source and approximately €45m (£38.6m; $52.1m) plus add-ons by another, was deemed significantly below City’s valuation for the Spain international. City is reportedly seeking upwards of £60m for the player.
Talks regarding a potential transfer have currently paused. While Barcelona’s interest in signing Rodri persists, it remains uncertain if they will submit a revised, higher offer. Sources in Spain indicate that Rodri would favour a move to Barcelona over Real Madrid.
Rodri’s contract situation and City’s stance
Rodri, who has entered the final year of his contract with Manchester City, has reportedly shown little inclination to extend his current terms, which expire in 2027. City’s primary preference is to retain their World Cup-winning captain and secure a new contract with him. However, the club would not prevent Rodri from leaving if he expresses a desire to depart.
The midfielder was a key figure in Spain’s 2026 World Cup victory and was awarded the Golden Ball after the final against Argentina. He underwent minor back surgery after the World Cup and is expected to return to training before the end of August.
During the April international break, Rodri had previously mentioned his interest in returning to Spain to play in La Liga again before concluding his career, also noting the appeal of representing Madrid.
Potential replacements and other transfer activities
As Manchester City considers options for a potential replacement, reports from Italy suggest that Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández is considered a “dream” signing for manager Enzo Maresca. However, earlier in the summer, City were reportedly not considering Fernández, with their focus on retaining Rodri.
The situation’s fluidity means that circumstances regarding Fernández could change, especially if Rodri moves to Barcelona, potentially leading City to seek two new players. Fernández is set to return to Chelsea training next week, having reached the World Cup final with Argentina. Despite a contract until 2032, questions about his future at Chelsea remain, particularly as the club reportedly values him at £120m.
Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri comes as the club will be without midfielder Frenkie de Jong for the start of the 2026-27 season due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. This summer, Barcelona has already signed wingers Anthony Gordon from Newcastle United and Karim Adeyemi from Borussia Dortmund. A new striker, such as Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, is also a target following Robert Lewandowski’s departure.
For Manchester City, this summer has already seen significant changes, including the departure of Pep Guardiola after a decade and long-serving players Bernardo Silva and John Stones. City has strengthened their midfield with the £116m ($155m) signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. The club is also reportedly pursuing 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, who impressed at the World Cup, although Lille’s reported £86m asking price is a potential sticking point.
Rodri joined City from Atletico in 2019 and has made 298 appearances for the club, scoring 28 goals and providing 32 assists. He has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League. He suffered an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at the start of the 2024-25 campaign and also dealt with hamstring and groin issues last season, featuring 33 times across all competitions.
According to one report, Real Madrid had been confident of reaching an agreement for Rodri earlier, but Barcelona’s interest has since taken the lead.
Source: skysports.com