Barcelona Intensifies Pursuit of Rodri Amid Manchester City Talks

The Rodri saga has accelerated into one of the summer’s most intense negotiations, with FC Barcelona and Manchester City now locked in what feels like the final stretch of a high‑stakes deal.

The midfielder has already made his position brutally clear. He wants Barcelona. He has turned down Real Madrid, informed City of his wish to join the Blaugrana, and is now waiting for the two clubs to catch up with his decision.

City manager Enzo Maresca publicly spoke as if he expected Rodri back in pre-season training, but behind the scenes the mood is very different. Those close to the talks believe the transfer is edging closer, not drifting away.

Barcelona raise the stakes

Barcelona have now put their second offer on the table: a package worth €70 million in total. The structure is straightforward enough — €65 million fixed, plus €5 million in add-ons.

It marks a sharp jump from their opening bid of €50 million, which City rejected without hesitation. From England came a clear message: the Premier League champions would not entertain a sale for less than around £70 million, roughly €80 million. That first proposal never stood a chance.

The weekend was always earmarked as crucial. Both clubs agreed to keep talking, to see whether a second offer could be shaped that came closer to City’s valuation without breaking Barcelona’s financial limits. That is exactly what has unfolded.

Neither side wants this to drag on. Everyone knows where the player stands, and there is broad agreement on his desire to move. The gap now is purely financial.

City under pressure to bend

Barcelona’s improved bid still sits below City’s reported asking price, but it changes the tone of the negotiation. From a lowball opening, they have moved into a range where compromise becomes possible.

Inside the deal, the expectation is that City will now be asked to move as well — to soften their stance and accept that a clean, quick sale at €70 million might be better than a prolonged standoff with a player whose head is already in Catalonia.

Barcelona, for their part, are treating this as a near‑final push. The intention is to close the transfer between today and tomorrow. There is barely any room left to keep inching figures up and down. Any changes now are likely to be minor tweaks rather than another major leap.

Rodri waits on the green light

Rodri has done his part. He has agreed a four-year contract with the La Liga champions and is ready to move as soon as the clubs shake hands. His aim is simple: avoid boarding a plane back to Manchester for pre-season with his future unresolved.

Everything now hinges on City’s response. Barcelona’s second offer is in, the player is aligned, and the clock is ticking on both clubs’ summer planning.

If City relent, Barcelona land the World Cup winner they have chased so aggressively. If they hold firm, the Catalans must decide whether this is their final number — or whether a midfielder central to Pep Guardiola’s era is worth one last stretch.