Manchester City reject Barcelona’s initial bid for Rodri
Manchester City have declined an initial offer of £38.5m from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri. City are reportedly open to a sale but would seek more than £60m for the player.
Rodri, who is 30 years old, is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has not yet agreed to a new deal, leading to speculation about his future. While Real Madrid was previously considered a likely destination, Barcelona now appears to be leading the pursuit. Sources indicate that Barcelona has received the player’s approval to begin negotiations with City, with their offer made on Friday.
Initial reports from Barcelona sources suggested uncertainty regarding a deal, but the situation is now developing. The club confirmed on Friday that discussions are ongoing with Rodri’s representatives. Meanwhile, talks between Rodri’s camp and Real Madrid have reportedly concluded.
Rodri’s Recent Form and Injury Concerns
Rodri experienced significant time off the pitch during the 2024-25 campaign due to a serious knee injury, and a hamstring issue also affected parts of the previous season. Despite these setbacks, he returned to strong form at the World Cup this summer, where he led Spain to their second title and was named player of the tournament, also winning the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Currently, Rodri is recovering from back surgery performed last month and is expected to rejoin his City teammates in Manchester early next week. As the transfer window progresses into its second week of August, City aims to quickly resolve Rodri’s situation to facilitate signing a replacement.
Transfer Market Activity and Potential Replacements
Barcelona’s interest in Rodri comes as they seek a replacement for midfielder Frenkie de Jong, who is expected to be out for several months due to a knee injury. Rodri has reportedly agreed personal terms with the Spanish champions, indicating a desire to return to his home country following the departure of Pep Guardiola from City.
City remains firm on their asking price, and Barcelona is continuing negotiations in hopes of reaching a compromise. Rodri had discussions with Barcelona’s manager, Hansi Flick, and sporting director, Deco, about a potential move on Wednesday.
In terms of potential replacements, City has already acquired Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m. They are also in negotiations with Lille for 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, though Lille’s asking price of £86m is a current sticking point. City might also consider more experienced options, with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández reportedly among those under consideration.
Real Madrid, who were also interested in Fernández, have already signed winger Yan Diomande for £115m, along with Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espí. This could necessitate selling players like Aurélien Tchouaméni or Eduardo Camavinga if they wish to pursue Fernández further.
According to Spanish radio network Cadena Ser, Rodri’s agent, Pablo Barquero, stated that Real Madrid made an “irresistible” offer to Rodri shortly after Spain’s World Cup victory. Despite positive discussions over two weeks, Rodri made a personal decision to accept another offer, informing Real Madrid of his choice on Friday.
Real Madrid subsequently ended their pursuit, thanking Rodri for the respectful nature of the negotiations.
Source: bbc.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
