Barcelona’s bid for Rodri rejected
Manchester City have rejected an initial offer from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri. The bid was considered too low by City, who are reportedly seeking upwards of £60m for the player. Rodri is in the final year of his current deal with City.
Barcelona’s initial offer was reported to be around £38.5m (€45m). Following the rejection, talks regarding a potential transfer have paused for the time being. However, Barcelona is reportedly planning to submit another offer in the coming days.
Sources in Spain suggest that Rodri would prefer a move to Barcelona over Real Madrid. It has been reported that the 30-year-old has agreed personal terms with the Spanish champions, indicating a desire to return to his home country. This development follows the departure of Pep Guardiola from City.
City, however, do not wish to sell the Spain international and are instead aiming to negotiate a new contract with him. Despite this, reports suggest that if Rodri expresses a desire to leave, the club would not prevent his departure.
Potential replacements and other interests
As City evaluate their options, should Rodri leave, reports from Italy indicate that Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández is considered a “dream” signing for City manager Enzo Maresca. Earlier reports, however, suggested that Fernández was not a primary target for City, as their focus was on retaining Rodri.
The situation surrounding Fernández remains fluid, and it is possible that circumstances could change. City might consider bringing in two players if Rodri were to join Barcelona. Fernández is expected to return to Chelsea training soon after participating in the World Cup final with Argentina. Questions about his future at Chelsea persist, despite his contract running until 2032. Chelsea reportedly values Fernández at £120m.
Fernández was not included in the squad for two games in April after comments he made about wanting to live in Madrid. Both the midfielder and his agent later apologised for these remarks. They are also seeking improved terms on his contract at Chelsea. Real Madrid previously issued a statement denying any interest in signing Fernández. Fernández and Maresca reportedly had a strong working relationship during Maresca’s time at Chelsea.
Jamie Carragher commented on the situation, stating that selling Rodri for £40-50m would not be beneficial for City. He suggested that City should keep Rodri for another year, even if it meant letting him leave on a free transfer later. Carragher highlighted Rodri’s importance to the team, describing him as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League and in world football. He also noted that City’s ability to win the Premier League could be significantly impacted without Rodri.
Laura Hunter echoed these sentiments, emphasising Rodri’s status as a complete central midfielder in the Premier League over the past five years. She mentioned that City’s strategy under Guardiola largely revolved around Rodri’s ability to control games and set the tempo. Hunter also pointed out that City struggled to retain their Premier League title in seasons when Rodri was affected by injuries.
Barcelona’s interest in Rodri comes as they anticipate being without midfielder Frenkie de Jong for several months due to a knee injury. Rodri has been identified as a potential replacement. He has undergone minor surgery on his back and is expected to miss parts of City’s pre-season programme.
City have reportedly signed Elliot Anderson and are in negotiations with Lille for Ayyoub Bouaddi. Bouaddi could reportedly cost up to £80m. However, City might be inclined to seek a more experienced replacement for Rodri if he departs, with Enzo Fernández among those being considered. Real Madrid is also reportedly interested in Fernández, who is 25 years old.
Real Madrid has already made several signings, including winger Yan Diomande for £115m and Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espí. To balance their finances, they might need to sell players such as Aurélien Tchouaméni or Eduardo Camavinga if they intend to pursue Fernández. Meanwhile, Crystal Palace has confirmed the signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu after a successful trial period, with an initial 12-month deal.
Source: skysports.com
Adam Rutherford is a Senior Football Correspondent at News-UK. He spent his early career filing match reports across the North West. He focuses on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Manchester Metropolitan University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Manchester, he coaches a youth team and watches grassroots football. “Every transfer window hides a dozen real stories.”
