Barcelona’s prolonged pursuit of Manchester City’s orchestrator, Rodri, has entered its definitive stage after high-level talks between the two clubs yielded significant progress. Direct communication between executive figures has gathered momentum, with sources close to the negotiations indicating that a final settlement is nearer now than at any previous point in the summer transfer window.
The breakthrough follows reports in the Spanish sports publication Marca, which confirmed that formal talks commenced after Rodri privately expressed a strong preference to join Barcelona, turning down tentative approaches from Real Madrid. Although Manchester City were keen on securing the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner to an extended contract, the Premier League champions have agreed to respect the player’s personal ambition for a fresh challenge in La Liga. Nevertheless, the English club established a rigid financial baseline, refusing to sanction the exit of their key anchor man for anything below market value. City initially placed a valuation of no less than 80 million euros on the 28-year-old international.
The early rounds of bidding exposed a clear disparity in valuation. Barcelona submitted an opening proposal in the region of 50 million euros, which City dismissed outright. The Catalan side returned with an adjusted second bid of roughly 60 million euros, yet Premier League executives maintained their refusal to compromise on their primary valuation.
A tangible shift occurred with Barcelona’s third official proposal. According to Marca, the revised package reaches approximately 70 million euros once performance-based add-ons are factored in. With this structured figure drawing close to City’s baseline demands, the likelihood of a deal being concluded before the deadline has surged. Observers indicate that while formal paperwork has yet to be finalised, an official announcement is largely a matter of timing.
In the interim, Rodri has returned to Manchester and reported to the club’s training ground. While he has not yet participated in full, high-intensity squad drills, he has been following a structured rehabilitation programme to build up his core fitness after an arduous campaign.
The Spaniard also held talks with Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca upon his return. Asked by reporters about the midfielder’s potential departure before the transfer window closes, Maresca offered a guarded response, remarking that “anything can happen.”
With under a fortnight remaining before the transfer window closes, the burden of execution falls heavily on Barcelona’s sporting leadership. Director of Football Deco is navigating a crowded agenda, where landing Rodri remains the paramount objective. Concurrently, the Catalan club is weighing a move for Atletico Madrid attacker Julian Alvarez, attempting to convert Joao Cancelo’s loan into a permanent arrangement, and assessing prospective bids for emerging midfielder Marc Casado.
