Manchester City have turned down an initial offer of £38.5 million from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri, according to club sources. The Premier League champions are willing to part with the Spaniard but have set a valuation in excess of £60 million before sanctioning any deal.
Contract situation and interest
The 30-year-old enters the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has yet to sign an extension, fueling intense speculation about his future throughout the summer. Real Madrid had appeared to be the frontrunners, but La Liga rivals Barcelona have now surged ahead after securing the player's approval to open negotiations with City.
The offer was formally submitted on Friday. Barcelona sources initially suggested there were no guarantees a deal would be reached, but the situation is now developing rapidly. The Catalan club confirmed on Friday that discussions with the player's representatives remain ongoing, while talks with Real Madrid have officially ended.
Injury and form
Rodri missed much of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining a serious knee injury, and parts of last season were further disrupted by a hamstring issue. However, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner returned to his best form at the World Cup during the summer, leading Spain to their second title and being named player of the tournament.
He is currently sidelined after undergoing back surgery last month and is scheduled to rejoin his City teammates early next week.
City's next steps
Approaching the second week of August in the transfer window, City are aiming to resolve Rodri's future swiftly in order to secure a replacement. Talks are ongoing to sign 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, though the French club's £86 million asking price appears to be a sticking point.
