Manchester City reject Barcelona's £38.5m bid for Rodri, demand £60m
The Premier League club is seeking to resolve the midfielder’s future swiftly to facilitate a replacement, with talks ongoing for Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Manchester City have rejected a £38.5 million bid from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri, insisting on a valuation exceeding £60 million for the Spain captain. The 30-year-old is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has yet to sign a new deal, with sources confirming to BBC Sport that the club is open to selling but will not accept the initial offer.
The situation has shifted significantly after Barcelona received the player’s approval to open negotiations, effectively ending earlier discussions with Real Madrid. Spanish radio network Cadena Ser reported that Real Madrid had made an "irresistible" offer involving club president Florentino Perez and chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez shortly after Spain’s World Cup triumph. However, Rodri made a personal decision to accept another offer, leading Real Madrid to end the process on Friday to avoid prolonging uncertainty.
Barcelona confirmed on Friday that they are in ongoing conversations with the player’s representatives. While the club initially stated there were no guarantees a deal would be made, the dynamic has changed with Rodri’s endorsement. The midfielder, who has made almost 200 appearances for City since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019, is currently recovering from back surgery and is scheduled to link up with teammates early next week.
City are aiming to resolve Rodri’s future swiftly to facilitate the signing of a replacement as the transfer window approaches its second week. Talks are ongoing to sign 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, though the French club’s £86 million asking price remains a significant sticking point. The move follows a period of injury disruption for Rodri, who missed much of the 2024-25 campaign due to a serious knee injury and a hamstring issue.
Rodri’s recent form has been highlighted by his performance at the World Cup, where he was named player of the tournament and led Spain to their second title. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner’s departure would leave a void in the midfield, a concern echoed by historical context regarding Real Madrid’s struggles following the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
