Barcelona Intensifies Pursuit of Rodri Amid Manchester City Talks
The Rodri saga has moved from background noise to full volume in a matter of days. What began as cautious contact has turned into a frantic negotiation between FC Barcelona and Manchester City, driven by one clear factor: the player wants the move.
Rodri has informed City that his wish is to join Barcelona, turning down the chance to listen to Real Madrid. That decision has sharpened the focus of all three clubs. City know the midfielder’s stance, Madrid have stepped aside, and Barcelona now sense a rare opportunity to prise away one of the Premier League’s most influential players.
City manager Enzo Maresca publicly spoke as if he expected Rodri back for pre-season in Manchester. Behind the scenes, the tone is different. The transfer is edging closer, and both clubs are working at speed to see whether there is a deal to be done.
Barcelona raise the stakes
Barcelona have already tested City’s resolve once. Their opening bid of €50 million was swiftly rejected by the English champions, who made it clear that such a figure would not even start the conversation.
Reports in England indicated City would not consider a sale for less than around £70 million, roughly €80 million. Against that backdrop, Barça’s first offer never stood a chance.
So they came back.
According to SPORT, Barcelona’s second proposal is now on the table: a package worth €70 million in total, with €65 million fixed and a further €5 million in add-ons. It represents a substantial jump from their initial attempt, a sign that the Catalan club are treating this as a priority operation rather than a speculative move.
It still falls short of City’s reported valuation. But this is the kind of number that forces a real discussion in any boardroom.
Talks between the clubs were always scheduled to continue through the weekend, with the clear aim of building an offer that could at least brush against City’s demands. That plan has been followed to the letter. Neither side wants a drawn-out saga when there is already broad agreement over the player’s desire to change shirts.
City under pressure to decide
Barcelona’s belief is that the ball now sits in City’s court. The expectation within the operation is that the Premier League giants will have to bend, at least slightly, on their financial stance if they are to keep the process moving.
The Catalan club consider there to be very little room left for further negotiation. This second offer has been constructed as close as possible to City’s line without crossing it entirely. Any further tweaks would likely be minor, last-minute adjustments rather than another major leap in price.
Time is a factor. Barcelona want the deal wrapped up between today and tomorrow. They do not want this to drift into a slow summer story. Rodri’s contract with Barça is already agreed in principle: a four-year deal with the La Liga champions, ready to be signed the moment the clubs shake hands.
That agreement underlines the urgency. Rodri is keen to avoid flying back to Manchester for pre-season only to see his future resolved from a distance. He wants clarity now, and he wants it in Barcelona’s colours.
So the situation is clear. Barcelona have raised their offer to a total of €70 million. Rodri has chosen the Camp Nou over the Etihad, and over Madrid. City hold the final decision.
The next call from Manchester will tell whether this is the moment a modern midfield cornerstone changes leagues, or whether Barcelona’s bold push meets its limit.
