Manchester City have rejected a £38.6 million bid from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri, with the Premier League club holding out for a fee closer to their £68.5 million valuation.
Standard Sport understands that City believe Barcelona's offer is too far below their valuation to even consider entering meaningful club-to-club talks yet. Barcelona are expected to come back with a second bid for the former Atletico Madrid midfielder.
Rodri's preference and interest
The World Cup winner is said to favour a move to Barcelona over any other club, with Real Madrid also credited with interest in the 30-year-old. Real Madrid had been confident of striking a deal for Rodri, who has one year left on his City contract, until Barcelona entered the conversation.
Rodri has previously spoken about his desire to return to La Liga, and with City undergoing seismic change following the departure of longstanding manager Pep Guardiola, he is keen to move on this summer.
Injury and replacement plans
The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner underwent minor back surgery after the World Cup, but is expected to return before the end of the month, with Barcelona eyeing him as a replacement for the injured Frenkie De Jong. De Jong is expected to miss the start of the 2026/27 season after tearing the medial collateral ligament in his right knee in July.
City have already strengthened in midfield after signing Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m. They are also heavily linked with a move for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who impressed for Morocco at the World Cup.
Rodri looks set to become the latest member of City's 2023 Champions League-winning squad to leave this summer after the departures of John Stones and Bernardo Silva.
