Barcelona Close In on Signing Rodri from Manchester City

Barcelona’s persistent pursuit of Manchester City’s talismanic Spanish midfielder, Rodri, has entered its final stages following intensive negotiations between the two European giants. Dialogue between the clubs has progressed rapidly, with insiders suggesting an agreement is closer now than at any previous point in the transfer window.

According to the Spanish sports daily Marca, formal talks initiated last week after Rodri indicated a clear preference for Barcelona as his preferred destination, successfully warding off competing interest from Real Madrid. While Manchester City remained keen on extending the contract of the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, the Premier League champions are prepared to respect their player’s personal wishes. However, the English side made their financial stance unambiguous from the outset, refusing to let their star midfielder leave on the cheap. City originally set a firm asking price of at least 80 million euros for his signature.

Negotiations began with a significant financial gap. Barcelona’s opening bid stood at approximately 50 million euros, an offer that was promptly turned down by Manchester City. The Catalan club subsequently returned with an improved second proposal, raising their valuation by roughly 10 million euros, but Premier League officials held firm in their refusal to compromise on their core valuation.

The dynamic shifted substantially with Barcelona’s latest formal submission. According to Marca, the Catalan side’s third proposal reaches roughly 70 million euros when taking performance-related add-ons into account. With this figure approaching City’s underlying financial expectations, the likelihood of a deal being finalised has increased dramatically. Sources close to the negotiations indicate that whilst no official announcement has been issued, reaching a final settlement appears to be a matter of time.

Meanwhile, Rodri has returned to Manchester and re-joined club activities. Although he has not yet resumed full high-intensity sessions with the primary squad, he completed structured recovery and rehabilitation routines as part of his ongoing fitness regimen.

The midfielder also met with Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca upon his return. When pressed by journalists regarding the player’s potential departure before the transfer window closes, Maresca offered a terse response, remarking that “anything can happen.”

Time remains a critical factor for Barcelona as the transfer deadline approaches in two weeks. Catalan sporting director Deco faces a demanding schedule, with securing Rodri’s signature representing his highest priority. Alongside this high-profile deal, Barcelona are actively pursuing Atletico Madrid forward Julian Alvarez, attempting to secure a permanent deal for Joao Cancelo, and evaluating the potential sale of midfielder Marc Casado.