Manchester City look set to turn down Barcelona’s latest attempt to sign Rodri, even though the Spain midfielder has already agreed personal terms with the LaLiga champions, according to SPORT as cited by Goal. Barcelona have opened club-to-club discussions and, internally, remain confident they can conclude a deal—yet City are insisting the transfer fee must rise substantially above the amounts currently on the table.
The situation reflects a classic negotiation clash: Barcelona see a finite window created by Rodri’s contract situation, while City view the player as too important to allow an orderly exit without a premium. Rodri, a Ballon d’Or winner and key figure for both club and country, is entering the final phase of his Manchester City deal. With only around 11 months remaining, Barcelona argue that a total package near €60 million is a fair reflection of the circumstances.
City’s stance, however, appears firm. ESPN reports that City have rejected Barcelona’s €50 million offer and that, in the broader market context, they are not prepared to consider selling Rodri unless the bidding reaches roughly €80 million. That threshold position underlines that, for City, the question is not whether Barcelona want the midfielder, but whether they are willing to meet City’s valuation for a player still central to their tactical identity.
Barcelona’s pressure campaign is coming alongside scheduling urgency at the top of the midfield pecking order. According to the Goal summary of SPORT’s reporting, the club’s push is partly driven by concerns around Frenkie de Jong’s fitness. Ongoing issues have raised the prospect that surgery may be required for a persistent injury, increasing the likelihood Barcelona need to strengthen their midfield immediately rather than waiting for a fully clear medical timeline.
In parallel, City’s decision-making is being framed by the sport’s wider calendar and squad planning. Enzo Maresca is expected to have Rodri back with Manchester City “at the moment” next week amid persistent speculation about the midfielder’s future, ESPN reports. That expectation suggests City still see Rodri as part of their short-term plans while the negotiations play out, rather than treating a sale as inevitable.
Goal also notes that Rodri’s camp moved decisively toward Barcelona after assessing other interest. When reports emerged that Real Madrid’s offer was comparatively modest, SPORT’s account—relayed through Goal—indicated that Madrid’s bid may have been as low as €40 million. Rodri’s representatives reportedly interpreted this as insufficient evidence of commitment, causing the midfielder to shift his focus away from the capital club and toward Barcelona.
The bargaining position is complicated further by Barcelona’s willingness to improve their proposal. The Guardian reports that Barça have made an improved offer of around €60 million (about £51 million), following an earlier opening bid of €45 million that City rejected “out of hand.” The latest figure is close to what City appear to view as the reasonable boundary for any sale, though the Premier League side’s reported insistence on a higher price in certain scenarios suggests they will not simply accept the first large increase.
While Barcelona remain confident, the commercial math of contract length is colliding with City’s determination to avoid a discount on a player they see as irreplaceable. The ESPN reporting emphasizes Rodri is 30 years old and in the final year of his deal through June 2027. That timing means a long-term extension could have been an alternative—but it is precisely this final-year pressure that has created the market leverage for Barcelona.
At the heart of the dispute is the mismatch between what Barcelona call “fair value” and what City call “market value.” Barcelona believe an overall €60 million package is justified by the contract clock, while City appear to have their own internal floor. ESPN’s figure of around €80 million for the kind of deal they would consider underscores that City may calculate replacement and squad impact costs that go beyond basic contract arithmetic.
Rodri’s personal choice is also part of the narrative. Though this transfer story began with speculation involving multiple Spanish heavyweight clubs, Goal’s separate discussion of the decision flow highlights that Rodri has leaned toward Barcelona over Real Madrid. It describes a context in which City were initially eager to retain him under Maresca’s new coaching regime, but the contract situation forced a more difficult choice: negotiate an immediate extension or risk a high-stakes sale this summer.
As negotiations continue, Rodri is not just a bargaining chip; he is also recovering from injury. ESPN states he is recovering from back surgery, which could affect his availability and could also alter the timing of how quickly City and Barcelona want the deal resolved. That adds another layer to the question of whether City will push for maximum value now—or whether the operational realities of preseason and fitness management will ultimately shape their final negotiating stance.
For Barcelona, the next move is clear: move closer to City’s valuation while maintaining momentum in club-to-club talks. For Manchester City, the message appears equally direct: personal agreement between player and club does not dictate the fee. Until the numbers converge—particularly given the reported gap between €50 million proposals and City’s preferred range—Rodri’s projected return to Spain will remain in limbo, even as both sides appear increasingly confident that a deal is within reach.
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