Barcelona intensifies Rodri pursuit as City faces decision

The Rodri saga has moved from background noise to full volume. Talks between FC Barcelona and Manchester City over the midfielder’s transfer are accelerating, driven by a player who has made his intentions brutally clear.

Rodri has told City he wants Barcelona. Not Real Madrid, who were also in the frame. The World Cup winner has chosen the Blaugrana and is pushing to make it happen, a stance that has given this negotiation its current, frantic rhythm.

City manager Enzo Maresca publicly spoke as if he expected Rodri back in training, but behind the scenes the picture looks very different. The deal is edging closer, and both clubs know it.

Barça raise the stakes

Barcelona have now put their second offer on the table. According to SPORT, the new proposal totals €70 million: €65 million fixed, plus €5 million in add-ons.

Their first bid, €50 million, barely lasted on City’s desk. Reports in England made it clear the Premier League champions did not intend to entertain anything below around £70 million, roughly €80 million. That opening offer never stood a chance.

The pressure, though, has not eased. Talks continued over the weekend with a clear objective: find a structure that could tempt City without blowing up Barça’s financial plan. The result is this improved package, a sizeable jump from the initial figure but still shy of City’s reported valuation.

What both sides share is an understanding of the player’s stance. Rodri wants the move. Neither club is keen to drag out an operation where the footballer’s desire is no longer in doubt.

City expected to bend

Barcelona’s latest offer stops just short of City’s notional asking price, but the expectation in the deal’s inner circle is that the English champions will now have to move too.

The Catalan club have little appetite for a long, drawn-out negotiation. Internally, there is a sense that they are already close to their limit, at least in terms of guaranteed money. Any further tweaks are likely to be around add-ons and payment structure rather than another big leap in the fixed fee.

City, for their part, face a choice. Hold firm on the original number and risk a standoff with a key player who has set his heart on Barcelona, or accept a slightly lower fee that still reflects Rodri’s status while avoiding an unwelcome distraction in pre-season.

Player waiting, clock ticking

Rodri has done his part. He has rejected Real Madrid, agreed a four-year contract with Barcelona and made it known he wants the deal wrapped up quickly. His aim is simple: complete the move in time to avoid returning to Manchester for pre-season.

Barcelona’s hierarchy are working to that same timetable. Their intention is to close the transfer between today and tomorrow, leaving minimal room for more back-and-forth. This second offer is designed to be decisive, perhaps needing only minor adjustments to get over the line.

The ball now sits in Manchester City’s court. Accept a proposal that respects their asset but falls just under their ideal price, or dig in and test how far Rodri and Barcelona are prepared to push.

For a player of his influence, this is more than just another transfer. It is a test of will between a club that built a midfield around him and another determined to do exactly the same.