Barcelona are preparing a third bid for Rodri worth more than €70million (£60m), but Manchester City are refusing to move off their €80million (£68m) valuation of the midfielder, a gap that has left a deal both parties want stuck in negotiation limbo.
According to reports cited by Fabrizio Romano, Barcelona have already had bids rejected, an initial offer worth around €45million followed by a €50million package, and are now preparing a fresh proposal closer to €60-70million as the two clubs continue negotiating. Sky Sports, Marca, Cadena SER and AS have all reported variations on the numbers in play, with Cadena SER specifically noting a package worth €70million including add-ons that City are now willing to at least consider.
The Fee Structure Nobody Can Agree On
The confusion around the exact figures reflects how fluid this negotiation has been. Marca reported City want around €70million fixed, with Barcelona’s most recent formal proposal worth €65million including variables. AS, meanwhile, put the total cost of the entire operation, transfer fee, wages and bonuses combined, at approximately €210million, built around an €80million fee and a reported net salary of €15million a year across four years.
That salary figure is significant context, with AS reporting that it forms part of the overall cost of the proposed operation alongside the transfer fee, bonuses and incentives.
Manchester City’s Leverage: Sell Now Or Keep Him For Free Next Summer
City’s position has not softened, and it traces back to a preference that predates this transfer saga entirely. Earlier this year City had prepared a new contract for Rodri running to 2029 that would have made him the second-highest-paid player at the club behind Erling Haaland, a sign they wanted to keep him rather than sell at all.
A source told TEAMtalk that anything under £70million would represent good business for a player who has only 12 months left on his deal, and that City would rather let him run down his contract and leave for nothing next summer than accept a fee they consider below his value. Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher made a similar case on air, arguing City should simply keep Rodri for the final year given how well he played at the World Cup.
Sporting director Hugo Viana and Barcelona counterpart Deco remain in regular contact, under manager Enzo Maresca’s new era at City, and City have effectively told Rodri’s camp that if he wants the move to happen, it is on him and his representatives to help close the gap with Barcelona. That is a club stating plainly it will not discount an asset it does not have to sell.
Rodri Has Already Packed His Bags
The player’s own position is unambiguous. Rodri and his family have reportedly begun packing up their home in Manchester, and he has already agreed personal terms with Barcelona on what multiple reports describe as a four-year contract. Despite that, Marca reported he was required to report for pre-season training in England on Friday because no club-to-club agreement exists yet.
Rodri’s recent form makes the stakes even clearer. He captained Spain to World Cup glory this summer, won the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, and has recently undergone minor surgery on a back problem as part of managing his fitness following an ACL injury in 2024. Across seven years at City since his €70million move from Atlético Madrid in 2019, he has won 13 trophies including four Premier League titles, scored the winning goal in the 2022-23 Champions League final, and claimed the 2024 Ballon d’Or.
Barcelona are continuing to work to reach an agreement with City, while Rodri has informed City of his desire to join the Catalan club. The clubs remain in contact, but the financial difference between their positions has yet to be resolved.
What Happens Next In The Rodri Transfer Saga
This remains a deal both sides expect to happen rather than one that has happened. Goal.com has reported that Barcelona have set a strict 48-hour deadline to finalise an agreement, with Joan Laporta intervening as the club works to complete the transfer. Sources close to the player believe he could be a Barcelona player within a week. City’s willingness to walk Rodri into the final year of his contract rather than accept a discount remains a significant factor as Barcelona work to close the financial gap.
