Rodri Pushes for Barcelona Move as Man City Talks Intensify
Rodri has made his position clear. He wants Barcelona, and he is prepared to bend his pre-season routine to get there.
After almost a week since the 30-year-old midfielder gave Barça the green light and agreed personal terms, Manchester City and the Catalan club are still haggling over the final fee. The gap is shrinking, but not closed. In the middle of it all stands one of the most influential midfielders in world football, waiting.
Special request to City
According to SPORT, Rodri has asked Manchester City for special permission to miss training while the two clubs try to iron out the last financial details of the deal.
His holidays officially ended on Thursday. He was due back at City’s training ground on Friday morning. That return date is why Barcelona may have to wait until Monday to finally seal what would be one of the headline transfers of the summer.
Rodri was even seen at Madrid airport boarding a flight back to England, but the feeling around him is clear: he is not keen on fully reintegrating into Pep Guardiola’s plans with a move so close.
The Spain international would rather stay away from full training, protect himself from any risk, and wait while Barça and City attempt to close the agreement.
Even so, the line is drawn. If Manchester City refuse his request and order him to report, he will return as scheduled and train while negotiations continue in the background. No strike, no public stand-off. Just a player pushing as far as he can without breaking the relationship.
A delicate balance between three parties
The report underlines that relations between Rodri, City and Barcelona remain good. No war, no public pressure campaign. Just a high-stakes negotiation involving a player who has already mentally chosen his next dressing room.
The financial difference between the clubs is described as “increasingly small”. That is exactly why Rodri is willing to hold his position. His stance is simple: wait for Barça. He hopes the final agreement can be reached in the coming days so he can fly straight to Barcelona and start working under Hansi Flick.
Barcelona have been here before. Ferran Torres was granted permission to delay his return while Barça finalised his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. Rodri is hoping for a similar gesture from City now.
Flight to Liverpool, eyes on Barcelona
There was another twist on Thursday evening. Despite requesting permission to miss training, Rodri was spotted at Madrid airport preparing to fly to Liverpool, around a 45‑minute drive from Manchester.
The trip raises questions but does not change the basic picture. It may simply be a practical move: return to the area, collect his belongings, and be ready if City insist on his presence at training.
What it does show is how close this saga feels to a conclusion. Rodri is positioning himself for a quick exit the moment the two clubs shake hands.
A marquee signing for Flick’s Barça
For Barcelona fans, this is the transfer they are circling in red. Rodri’s arrival would instantly change the face of Flick’s midfield. A World Cup-winning anchor, still at his peak, dropping into a team that has been crying out for control and authority in the centre of the pitch.
Inside Barça, the task is clear. Deco must now close the final gap with Manchester City and do it quickly. Every day that passes is another day without their potential new leader on the training pitch.
On City’s side, the next move will be telling. Do they call Rodri back into full training and signal that they are ready to stand firm, or do they quietly allow him to stay away and acknowledge that the end of this chapter is close?
The answer will say a lot about just how near Barcelona are to landing the midfielder who could redefine their season.
