Manchester City have turned down Barcelona’s initial £38.5m bid for Rodri. While City are open to a sale, they value the midfielder at more than £60m.
Rodri, 30, is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad and has yet to agree an extension, fueling intense speculation about his next move. Although Real Madrid had looked the likely destination, Barcelona are now in front after receiving the player’s permission to open talks with City, leading to Friday’s formal offer. BBC sources indicate discussions with Real have ended. Barcelona had previously cautioned there were no guarantees of a deal, but the situation is now progressing, with the club in ongoing talks with the player’s camp.
Injury issues limited Rodri last season—he missed much of 2024-25 with a serious knee problem and had earlier hamstring troubles—but he returned to top form at the summer World Cup, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024, captaining Spain to a second title, and being named player of the tournament. He is currently sidelined after back surgery last month and is expected to rejoin City training early next week.
With the second week of August approaching, City want clarity on Rodri’s future to secure a replacement. They remain in negotiations for 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille, though the French club’s £86m valuation is proving a major hurdle.