Manchester City are preparing to resist FC Barcelona’s push for Rodri, even after the midfielder has already agreed personal terms with the Catalan club, according to reports. The standoff centers on valuation: Barça has been willing to discuss a package that starts far below City’s stated asking price, while City remain unmoved on the figure they consider appropriate for a player entering the final year of his contract.
The latest round of discussions follows an important development on the human side of the deal. Multiple reports indicate Rodri has signaled a clear preference to join Barcelona over alternatives, including Real Madrid. ESPN, citing sources close to the situation, said Barcelona’s approach is ongoing and that personal terms have already been agreed with the player, meaning the remaining obstacle is primarily financial and procedural—how to bridge the gap between Barça’s offer structure and City’s €65 million valuation. ESPN
Barcelona’s opening position has been described as €45 million plus €15 million in add-ons—effectively a total that could reach €60 million depending on performance and other variables. City, however, have been holding firm. Forbes reported that Manchester City intend to turn down Barça’s initial offer and stick to their higher assessment of Rodri’s market value. Forbes
In Barcelona’s internal calculations, the club has set a cap on what it is willing to pay for a 30-year-old whose contract is close to expiring. The reported ceiling is €50 million, with the possibility of increasing the payment to €60 million through agreed variables. Sporting Director Deco and his team are said to view that range as fair given Rodri’s contract length—only about 11 months remaining—while also keeping Barça’s broader budgeting constraints in mind. The implication is that Barcelona see themselves as negotiating within a rational spending envelope, not simply trying to force City down to an unrealistic figure.
Yet City’s position is rooted in a different logic: that Rodri’s role and standing justify an asking price closer to their stated valuation. Forbes characterized this as more than stubbornness, arguing that City have not previously blocked a player’s desire to move on—a point linked to the era of Pep Guardiola, when transfers involving players wishing to leave tended to be handled with restraint and professionalism rather than obstruction. Forbes
For Barcelona, the challenge now is twofold: meeting City’s demands while ensuring that the deal aligns with the club’s budgetary limit for the transaction. The player has already done his part by agreeing personal terms and, according to the reports, choosing Barcelona over Real Madrid even though Madrid’s offer was described as lower—around €40 million—by sources discussing the comparative landscape. That preference increases pressure on Barcelona to “complete the job,” but it also means the club cannot rely on player goodwill alone to close the valuation gap.
Reports also suggest that Barça’s confidence is not purely symbolic. While City rejected Barça’s initial offer, “official club talks” have continued, and Barcelona remain “very confident” about securing the midfielder. ESPN likewise said that while City have rejected the opening offer, talks are expected to persist over the coming days with the intention of reaching a workable agreement. ESPN
Beyond the negotiation window, Rodri’s decision to choose Barcelona has been framed in part by sporting fit. Managing Madrid, citing reporting from The Athletic and other outlets, described how Barça’s footballing style and the environment within the dressing room could help adaptation. The reports go further by noting that Rodri would potentially be reunited with multiple Spain international teammates from the squad that won the World Cup, including names such as Gavi, Pedri, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal, and others—suggesting a smoother cultural and tactical transition.
However, the broader picture at Manchester City includes contingency planning. ESPN reported that Enzo Fernández has emerged as a leading candidate to replace Rodri, with the club’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, reportedly eager for a reunion with the player he coached at Stamford Bridge. ESPN also suggested that the transfer fee for Fernández could exceed £100 million, underscoring that City’s approach to succession may be expensive and complex—another reason why they are unlikely to accept a valuation they believe undervalues Rodri.
As the clock ticks toward a decisive resolution, the central question is whether Barcelona can restructure the deal to satisfy City’s €65 million expectations without breaching the club’s self-imposed payment limits. Sources indicate that Barça’s maximum—€50 million rising to €60 million with variables—currently falls short of City’s valuation. If that gap cannot be closed, City’s rejection may become a long-term position rather than a short negotiation beat.
For now, the narrative is clear: Rodri has aligned himself with Barcelona, Barça’s process is active and confidence remains high, but City’s valuation stance is the decisive hurdle. Barcelona will have to tread carefully in negotiations to meet City’s price, while City will continue weighing both the immediate deal terms and the longer-term squad plan if an agreement takes longer than hoped.
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