Premier League club want more than £60m for midfielder as Barcelona lead the race for his signature
Manchester City have rejected an opening £38.5m bid from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri as uncertainty over the Spain international’s future continues.
City are reportedly willing to sell the 30-year-old but would demand more than £60m for the midfielder, who is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri has yet to agree a new deal with City, increasing speculation that he could leave the club during the current transfer window.
Barcelona lead transfer race
Real Madrid had previously appeared to be Rodri’s most likely destination, but Barcelona have now moved ahead in the race.
Sources told BBC Sport that Barcelona had received approval from Rodri to open negotiations with Manchester City. The Catalan club submitted its opening offer on Friday after holding discussions with the player’s representatives.
Barcelona initially indicated that there was no guarantee a deal would be completed, but talks have now progressed.
Real Madrid talks end
Negotiations between Rodri and Real Madrid have now ended, according to BBC sources.
Spanish radio network Cadena Ser reported that Real Madrid had made what it described as an “irresistible” offer to Rodri following Spain’s World Cup triumph.
The report said negotiations began shortly after the tournament, with Rodri’s representatives impressed by the approach taken by Real Madrid.
However, Rodri ultimately decided to accept another offer, according to the report. Real Madrid were informed of his decision on Friday and chose to end negotiations rather than prolong uncertainty over the midfielder’s future.
Rodri’s injury history
Rodri missed a large part of the 2024-25 season after suffering a serious knee injury and later experienced further disruption because of a hamstring problem.
Despite those setbacks, he returned to his best form at the World Cup during the summer, helping Spain win their second title and being named player of the tournament.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner is currently recovering from back surgery he underwent last month.
He is expected to return to Manchester early next week to rejoin his City teammates.
City seek replacement
Manchester City are keen to resolve Rodri’s future quickly as they prepare for the remainder of the transfer window.
If the midfielder leaves, City will need to find a replacement, with talks already under way for Lille’s 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.
However, Lille’s reported £86m asking price has become a major obstacle in negotiations.
City must therefore balance finding an acceptable fee for Rodri with securing a suitable replacement before the transfer window closes.
Transfer battle intensifies
Barcelona’s opening bid falls well below Manchester City’s valuation, meaning further negotiations are expected.
With Rodri’s contract entering its final year and Barcelona now leading the race after Real Madrid ended their pursuit, his future is becoming one of the major transfer stories of the summer.
City will hope to reach a resolution soon, while Barcelona face the challenge of convincing the Premier League club to lower its demands or agreeing to a significantly higher fee.
