Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s opening £38.5m bid for Rodri, but the discussion is not over yet. Negotiations are continuing over the Spain midfielder, who has become Barcelona’s preferred target after talks with Real Madrid broke down this week.
The size of the rejected offer shows how far apart the two clubs are for now. City are believed to want £60m for the 30-year-old, a figure that sits well above Barcelona’s first bid and reflects his importance in Pep Guardiola’s squad.
Why Barcelona want Rodri now
Barcelona need a replacement for Frenkie de Jong, who will be out for several months with a knee injury. That has made Rodri a serious option, especially because he has already agreed personal terms with Barcelona and spoken to Hansi Flick and Deco about a possible move on Wednesday.
Rodri’s situation also makes the story more complicated. He is in the final year of his Manchester City contract, but he has had minor back surgery and will miss most of City’s pre-season programme. That could affect the timing of any transfer, even if the two clubs remain in contact.
What happens next
Rodri has been one of City’s most important players since joining from Atlético Madrid in 2019, and Barcelona would be pursuing a major move if they can get closer to City’s valuation. For now, though, the message from Manchester is clear: £38.5m is not enough.
The gap between the clubs is significant, but the fact that talks are still ongoing suggests this could develop further. Barcelona have made their first move. Now they have to decide whether to go back with a stronger offer.
