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Barcelona are stepping up their pursuit of Rodri after Manchester City rejected their opening offer, with the Spanish champions now trying to find a price that convinces City to sell rather than risk losing the midfielder for nothing next summer.
Barcelona Return With More Money
Barcelona’s attempt to bring Rodri back to Spain is gathering pace, but Manchester City are making sure there will be no bargain deal.
City rejected Barcelona’s opening offer of around £38.5 million for the Spain captain, with the Premier League club demanding considerably more before discussing a sale. City wanted at least £60 million, while other sources has placed their valuation closer to £68 million.
Barcelona have not been put off. Reports on Sunday claimed the La Liga champions had raised their proposal to around £51.4 million as negotiations continued. That would still leave the clubs several million pounds apart, although the difference now looks far more negotiable than it did after the first bid.
It was also reported that Barcelona believe a compromise can be reached and are preparing to keep pushing for an agreement.
Rodri Appears Ready for Spain Return
City’s problem is not simply Barcelona’s interest. Rodri is entering the final year of his contract and has reportedly turned down the chance to extend his stay in Manchester.
The 30-year-old is also understood to favour Barcelona after discussions with Real Madrid failed to produce a deal. Rodri has agreed personal terms with Barça and has already spoken with coach Hansi Flick and sporting director Deco about the move.
Sky Sports has also confirmed that Barcelona have been pursuing the midfielder while Real Madrid retain an interest, with Rodri’s contract situation giving both Spanish clubs an obvious reason to test City’s resolve.
For Manchester City, that creates an awkward choice. They can keep one of the world’s best holding midfielders for another season and risk watching him leave without a transfer fee in 2027, or take the best offer they can negotiate now.
De Jong Injury Adds Pressure on Barça
Barcelona’s interest has become more urgent following Frenkie de Jong’s knee injury.
The Dutch midfielder is expected to miss several months, leaving Flick with a sizeable hole in the middle of the pitch. Rodri offers an unusually neat answer: proven at the highest level, comfortable controlling possession and already established as the heartbeat of Spain’s midfield.
He would also arrive on the back of a remarkable summer. Rodri captained Spain to the 2026 World Cup and won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player, strengthening City’s argument that a player of his calibre should not be sold cheaply simply because his contract is running down.
City Have Already Started Preparing
Manchester City do not appear to be waiting for the transfer saga to resolve itself before planning for life without Rodri.
The club have already signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million and have been pursuing Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi. Bouaddi could cost as much as £80 million, although City could still seek a more experienced midfielder if Rodri leaves.
Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández is among the names linked with that role. City also have Nico González, who operates in a similar area of the pitch, although replacing Rodri is less about finding another defensive midfielder and more about replacing the control he gives an entire team.
Back Surgery Adds Another Twist
Rodri has recently undergone minor back surgery and missed much of City’s pre-season preparations, although reports suggest he is expected back with the squad shortly.
His recent injury history gives Barcelona another argument when discussing the fee, while Manchester City can point to his performances for Spain at the World Cup as evidence that his value remains high.
That tug-of-war explains why the figures being discussed vary so widely. Barcelona see a 30-year-old with less than 12 months left on his contract. Manchester City see a Ballon d’Or winner and freshly crowned World Cup Golden Ball recipient whom they have little interest in replacing cheaply.
The Next Bid Could Decide It
Barcelona now appear close enough to City’s preferred range for the next round of talks to matter.
An offer around £51 million is unlikely to be enough on its own if Manchester City hold firm at £60 million or above, but bonuses, payment structures and achievable add-ons could provide room for both sides to claim victory.
City know their negotiating power decreases as the transfer deadline approaches and Rodri’s contract gets shorter. Barcelona know there is little reason to meet a £68 million valuation immediately when the player could be available without a transfer fee in less than a year.
That makes this less a question of whether Barcelona want Rodri and more a question of how much they are prepared to pay to get him now.
For supporters and punters watching the summer transfer market, the direction of travel is becoming difficult to ignore: Barcelona have moved from an opening shot that City dismissed to a bid that at least puts a deal within touching distance. One more jump may be enough to turn one of the summer’s biggest transfer stories into an agreement.
