Manchester City have turned down an opening bid from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri but are willing to sell for a fee above £60m, according to sources who spoke to . The Spain captain, 30, is entering the final year of his contract at Etihad Stadium and has not committed to a new deal, fuelling weeks of speculation over his next move.
Real Madrid had been widely tipped as Rodri's likely destination, but Barcelona have now emerged as the frontrunners after sources told on Thursday that the player had given the Catalan club the green light to open negotiations with City. Barcelona sources initially cautioned that no agreement was guaranteed, but the situation has since moved forward, with the club confirming on Friday that discussions with Rodri's representatives were ongoing. BBC sources say talks between Rodri and Real Madrid have now come to a close.
What offer did Barcelona make, and why was it rejected?
Barcelona submitted an opening proposal worth €45 million plus a further €10 million in potential add-ons, but City rejected the offer, according to Yahoo Sports. Spanish reports cited by the same outlet put City's asking price as high as €65 million, while other outlets suggested the club might settle for around €60 million. Barcelona's financial ceiling for the transfer has been reported at €50 million as a fixed fee, with the remainder potentially structured as performance-related bonuses.
Despite the rejected bid, Barcelona are increasingly viewed as favourites to land the midfielder, with reports indicating the club is prepared to raise its offer to "slightly over" €45 million, according to SPORTbible. A separate Spanish report cited by the same outlet claims Barcelona could offer Rodri personal terms worth €30 million gross per year should a deal be reached.
How did Real Madrid's pursuit collapse?
Per Cadena Ser, which spoke directly with Rodri's agent Pablo Barquero, Real Madrid tabled what was described as an "irresistible" offer soon after Spain's World Cup victory. Negotiations began within days of the tournament ending, and Rodri's camp reportedly praised the courtesy, professionalism and respect shown throughout the process.
The radio network reported that the entire Real Madrid hierarchy, from president Florentino Perez down to chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez, was personally involved in trying to push the deal through, underlining how seriously the club pursued the signing. Everything was reportedly put on the table over two weeks of talks, yet Rodri ultimately chose to accept a rival offer instead. Cadena Ser said Real Madrid were informed of his decision on Friday and opted to withdraw from the process rather than prolong uncertainty, thanking the player for how respectfully the negotiations had been handled.
According to Forbes, Real Madrid had been negotiating for weeks before talks stalled specifically over the transfer fee, which is said to have opened the door for Barcelona to step in once Real failed to meet City's valuation.
What is Rodri's history at Manchester City?
Rodri has made close to 200 appearances for City since arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2019, a transfer reported at the time to be worth £62.8 million, making him the club's record signing, per 's original coverage of the deal. He missed a large part of the 2024-25 season with a serious knee injury and was further hampered by a hamstring problem last season.
Nonetheless, he returned to top form at the recent World Cup, captaining Spain to their second title and being named the tournament's best player. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner is currently recovering from back surgery performed last month; as previously reported, he faces a short spell on the sidelines with no confirmed return date, and he is due to rejoin his City team-mates in Manchester early next week.
What happens next?
Barcelona still need to agree a fee with Manchester City following the rejection of their opening bid, and further rounds of negotiation appear likely, according to Yahoo Sports. City are expected to hold out for a higher fee than what Barcelona have proposed so far, per The Straits Times, and reports suggest the matter could be resolved quickly as the transfer window enters its closing weeks.
With the window now into its second week of August, City are keen to settle Rodri's future promptly so they can move for a replacement. The club has been in talks to sign 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, though the French club's £86m valuation of the teenager remains a sticking point. As previously reported, City had been bracing for a bid from Real Madrid before Barcelona's late entry into the race, and Real Madrid had expressed confidence just days earlier that they would secure the midfielder.
Key Facts
- Manchester City have rejected Barcelona's opening bid but would sell Rodri for above £60m.
- Barcelona reportedly offered €45m plus €10m in add-ons; their ceiling is said to be around €50m fixed.
- Real Madrid's talks with Rodri have ended after weeks of negotiation stalled over fee.
- Rodri, 30, is the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner and was named player of the recent World Cup, which Spain won.
- He is recovering from back surgery and expected to rejoin City training early next week.
