Barcelona Submits Offer for Manchester City’s Rodri Amidst Transfer Speculation
Barcelona has submitted an offer of approximately €45 million for Manchester City midfielder Rodri. This figure, which includes potential add-ons, is considered by Manchester City to be significantly below the amount required to initiate negotiations for the player’s transfer.
Currently, no substantial club-to-club discussions are taking place, as Manchester City awaits a more serious bid.
Rodri’s contract and interest from Spanish clubs
Rodri’s current contract with Manchester City is set to expire in 2027, and he has reportedly shown little inclination to extend his terms. The midfielder, who was instrumental in Spain‘s 2026 World Cup victory and received the Golden Ball award, has previously expressed a desire to return to Spain and play in La Liga before the conclusion of his career, also noting the appeal of representing Real Madrid.
Barcelona‘s pursuit of Rodri comes as the club will be without midfielder Frenkie de Jong for the start of the 2026-27 season due to a knee injury. Prior to Barcelona’s offer, Real Madrid had also been working on a deal for Rodri and had expressed confidence in reaching an agreement.
Rodri underwent minor back surgery following the World Cup and is anticipated to return to action before the end of August.
Behind Barcelona’s pursuit
Barcelona‘s efforts to sign Rodri involved a period of discretion. Sporting director Deco reportedly returned to Barcelona from a break in Croatia before joining the team’s pre-season training camp in England. During this time, he held a significant meeting regarding the transfer, having already made initial contact with Rodri’s representatives to understand the potential terms of a deal.
A meeting between Rodri and Deco took place in Catalonia at a luxury hotel, lasting approximately two and a half hours. During this meeting, Deco outlined Barcelona‘s sporting project, the role envisioned for Rodri within the team, and coach Hansi Flick‘s technical vision. This discussion reportedly influenced Rodri’s perspective, despite Real Madrid having been considered the frontrunner previously.
Hansi Flick also played a direct role, making calls to Rodri to explain his technical vision and the leadership he sought from the player. Dani Codina, Barcelona‘s head of player services, also contributed to the process, leveraging a prior relationship with Rodri from their time at Manchester City to foster trust and facilitate a connection to the Catalan project.
Following a series of calls and meetings, Barcelona received confirmation that their project had gained Rodri’s favour, indicating the negotiations had progressed to an advanced stage.
Manchester City’s squad changes
Manchester City has experienced significant changes this summer, including the departure of manager Pep Guardiola after a decade, as well as long-serving players Bernardo Silva and John Stones. The club has strengthened its midfield with the signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest.
Rodri joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2019. During his time with the club, he has made 298 appearances, scoring 28 goals and providing 32 assists. His honours include four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League.
He sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury at the beginning of the 2024-25 campaign and also dealt with hamstring and groin issues last season, featuring in 33 competitions.
Rodri’s contract with Manchester City is set to expire in 2027.
Source: nytimes.com
