Rodri Transfer: Manchester City Reject Barcelona's £38.5m Bid

Manchester City have knocked back a £38.5m (€45m) bid from Barcelona for Rodri and made it clear they will not open the door for less than £60m, drawing a hard line over the future of Spain’s World Cup‑winning captain.

The midfielder, now into the final year of his contract at the Etihad, has set his heart on a return to Spain. Barcelona have emerged as his preferred destination after talks with Real Madrid collapsed this week, and personal terms with the Spanish champions are understood to be in place. With Pep Guardiola gone and a new era beginning at City, Rodri has signalled that this is the moment to go home.

City, though, are in no mood to be rushed or lowballed. Having signed him from Atlético Madrid in 2019 and watched him grow into the heartbeat of their midfield, they have already seen off one lucrative contract offer from their own side, only for Rodri to turn it down. Now they are just as firm with Barcelona: pay the asking price or walk away. Negotiations continue, but the gap between bid and valuation remains significant.

Barcelona's Need

The Catalan club’s need is obvious. Frenkie de Jong faces several months out after suffering a knee injury, ripping a hole in Hansi Flick’s midfield plans before the season has even started. Rodri has become their priority solution. He spoke directly with Flick and sporting director Deco on Wednesday to explore the move, just weeks after collecting the World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s outstanding player.

Rodri's Injury

There is a complication. Rodri has undergone minor back surgery and will miss most of City’s pre-season. For Barcelona, that represents both a risk and an opportunity: a short-term absence, but a potential opening to push for a deal while City reshape their squad.

City's Reshaping

That reshaping has already begun. City have paid £116m to bring in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest and are still deep in talks with Lille over Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Morocco midfielder could cost up to £80m, a hefty outlay for a player still developing, which is why the champions may yet seek a more established replacement if Rodri leaves. Enzo Fernández, currently at Chelsea, is among the names under serious consideration.

Enzo Fernández Situation

Enzo’s situation adds another layer of intrigue. Real Madrid also want him. José Mourinho, back at the Santiago Bernabéu for a second spell, had made the signing of a central midfielder a priority and is understood to be unimpressed at the prospect of losing another target to Barcelona or City. The tension is building in the Spanish capital.

Real have already spent heavily. Yan Diomande has arrived for £115m, while Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Espí have all been added to Mourinho’s squad. Those deals carry a cost. To move for Fernández as well, Madrid may have to sacrifice one of Aurélien Tchouaméni or Eduardo Camavinga to balance the books.

So the market waits. City stand firm on Rodri. Barcelona push, knowing their midfield needs a new anchor. Real hover over Fernández, juggling finances and egos. One decision at the Etihad could send a shockwave through three of Europe’s biggest midfields before the window closes.