Rodri Pushes for Barcelona Move as Talks with Man City Intensify

The transfer saga that has dominated Barcelona’s summer is entering a critical phase, and Rodri has now put his cards firmly on the table.

The 30-year-old midfielder, who has already agreed personal terms and given Barcelona the green light almost a week ago, is waiting for the clubs to catch up with him. The agreement between player and Barça is done. The agreement between Barça and Manchester City is not.

So he has made a move of his own.

Rodri asks City to stand aside

According to SPORT, Rodri has asked Manchester City for special permission to miss training while the final details of his potential transfer are thrashed out.

His holidays officially ended on Thursday. He was due back at City’s training ground on Friday morning. On paper, that meant Barcelona might have had to wait until Monday to close what would be one of the standout deals of the window.

But Rodri does not want to step back into normal club life only to walk straight back out again. The Spain international would rather stay away and protect himself physically and mentally while the two clubs work on closing the remaining financial gap.

If City say no, he will report as instructed and carry on as negotiations continue in the background. No strike, no public rebellion. Just a clear signal of preference from a player who has already chosen his next destination.

Crucially, the report underlines that relations between Rodri, City and Barcelona remain good. This is pressure, not war.

A gap that keeps shrinking

There is still no final agreement between the clubs, but the numbers are now said to be edging closer. The “distance” is financial, not ideological. Everyone knows what everyone wants.

Rodri’s stance is straightforward. He wants to wait for Barcelona. He hopes the final breakthrough arrives in the coming days so he can fly straight to Catalonia and start work under Hansi Flick without the detour of a full pre-season reintegration at City.

Barcelona have been here before. Ferran Torres was granted permission to delay his return while Barça finalised his move to Paris Saint-Germain. Rodri is hoping for a similar level of understanding from Manchester City as the deal enters its final stretch.

Between Madrid, Liverpool and a decision

The story took another twist on Thursday evening. Despite his request to skip training, Rodri was spotted at Madrid airport boarding a flight to Liverpool, around a 45-minute drive from Manchester.

The trip raises questions but doesn’t change the core narrative. It may simply be a practical step: return to the area, collect his belongings, and be ready for whatever City decide. If the club insist he trains, he is close enough to walk back through the doors. If they allow him to stay away, he can keep himself on standby for a move to Spain.

Either way, the clock is ticking.

Barcelona wait, Deco works, City hold the key

For Barcelona fans, Rodri’s potential arrival is the marquee move of the summer. A World Cup-winning midfielder, at the peak of his powers, stepping into Flick’s side would instantly raise the team’s ceiling.

Inside the club, all eyes are on Deco. The sporting director is tasked with closing the gap with City and turning months of talks into a signature. The structure of the deal, the final fee, the timing of payments — all of it now sits on a knife-edge.

What happens next at Manchester City’s training ground will speak volumes. If Rodri is ordered back in and fully reintegrated, the message will be that City are prepared to drag this out or hold their line. If they quietly allow him to remain on the sidelines, away from the day-to-day, it will be a clear sign that this transfer is moving from possibility to inevitability.