Manchester City midfielder Rodri has verbally agreed to join Barcelona, according to reports. Real Madrid have been working on a deal to sign Rodri this month but have yet to reach an agreement with City over a transfer fee.
Barcelona make their move
Madrid’s inability to agree a deal with City has allowed Barcelona to make their move and according to Gerard Romero, Rodri has given his approval to join the Spanish champions. Barcelona head coach, Hansi Flick, has already contacted Rodri about a move to Camp Nou and the club will now begin negotiations with City.
‘I can exclusively announce that Rodri will be a new Barcelona player,’ Romero said on his Jijantes YouTube show on Thursday. ‘The midfielder gave Barca his final approval this morning and will become the club’s newest signing in the coming hours. He rejected Real Madrid, didn’t want to wait any longer, and will join Barcelona.’
Transfer fee and player status
Meanwhile, RMC Sport report that City are hoping to secure an €80 million (£68.5m) transfer fee for Rodri but Barcelona will be aiming for a fee between €60m and €70m (£51.3m and £60m). Rodri underwent minor surgery on a back injury last week, and is currently on holiday in Ibiza after winning the World Cup with Spain last month.
The 30-year-old, who started only 17 Premier League games last season having suffered an ACL injury in September 2024, won the World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
Maresca comments
Speaking this week, Enzo Maresca claimed he had not held specific discussions with City’s hierarchy over Rodri’s future. ‘It’s just about speculation at the moment,’ Maresca said. ‘Rodri had the surgery last Monday; everything was fine. Now, some days off and he’ll be back with us when he finishes his holiday.
‘As I said, the main focus for him when the season finished was the FIFA World Cup. Now, he is enjoying some rest after that and we didn’t have any conversations just focused on Rodri.’
When asked about the importance of keeping Rodri at City, Maresca replied: ‘It’s very important. I said in the first press conference that any manager in the world wants Rodri because he’s a top player.
‘It’s important for me, the club and for everyone. But now, he needs his holiday – that’s very important when we start to play every three days.’
Rodri's previous comments
Speaking in March, Rodri, who has one year left on his contract with City, admitted that he would find it difficult to turn down a move to Madrid. Asked if he would like to return to La Liga, Rodri told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: ‘I’d like to return, yes, obviously. For me, La Liga is where I started. I still follow it, it’s true not as much as before, but I still follow it.’
