Manchester City has maintained a firm stance in negotiations, rejecting Barcelona’s second bid for midfielder Rodri and signaling they have no intention of making his exit easy.
The saga surrounding Rodri’s potential transfer to Barcelona has added a new chapter this week. Manchester City, guided by manager Enzo Maresca’s strategy, has formally rejected the second official offer submitted by the Catalan club. Although Barcelona increased their bid compared to their first attempt, the figures remain far from the English club’s expectations.
To release one of their midfield pillars, the Citizens‘ board has set a clear financial bar: the club is demanding a fixed fee between 70 million and 80 million euros. The Spaniards’ most recent offer, which hovered around 55 to 60 million euros guaranteed—potentially rising to 65 million with performance-based bonuses—was deemed insufficient to open deeper negotiations.
The financial deadlock
The gap between Barcelona‘s offer and Manchester City‘s asking price highlights the complexity of this transfer window deal. While the Blaugrana are looking to make the signing at a more affordable cost, the Manchester club is playing “hardball,” well aware of Rodri’s technical importance to the team’s tactical setup.
“Barcelona’s insistence on trying to reduce the operation’s costs is hitting a wall due to the value Manchester City places on its squad. The English club is unwilling to settle for figures they consider below market value for an elite player,” notes the M360 Team.
Interest in Enzo Fernández
One of the reasons behind the high price tag on the Spanish midfielder is the club’s desire to overhaul that sector. Manchester City continues to monitor Enzo Fernández, currently at Chelsea. Since the London club is asking for figures in the region of 120 million pounds for the Argentine, the Citizens‘ board understands they need to maximize profit from current sales to fund their transfer market targets.
The player’s future
Despite the English club’s resistance, Rodri himself has already signaled his interest in a change of scenery. The 30-year-old midfielder is under contract until 2027, which gives Manchester City some legal security, but the player’s desire to wear the Barcelona jersey adds an extra layer of pressure behind the scenes.
The player’s return to activities at the Etihad Stadium, scheduled for this Friday (14), should serve as a gauge for the next steps. With negotiations at a clear impasse, Barcelona will need to decide whether to return with a third proposal or explore other alternatives in the market to bolster their midfield, reports the M360 Team.
