Manchester City Reject Barcelona's £38.5m Bid for Rodri

Manchester City Reject Barcelona’s £38.5m Bid for Rodri
City value the Spain midfielder at more than £60 million.
Manchester City continue talks over Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s opening £38.5 million bid for midfielder Rodri as the La Liga champions intensify their efforts to sign the Ballon d’Or winner.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Premier League champions are willing to consider offers for the Spain international but have valued the midfielder at more than £60 million, significantly higher than Barcelona’s initial proposal.

Barcelona submitted their first official offer on Friday after receiving Rodri’s approval to begin negotiations with Manchester City.

The 30 year old has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and is yet to agree a new deal, increasing speculation over his future during the summer transfer window.

Although Real Madrid had long been regarded as the favourites to secure Rodri’s signature, Barcelona have now emerged as the leading contenders after discussions between the player’s representatives and the Spanish giants came to an end.

Barcelona had initially acknowledged that completing the transfer would be difficult, but negotiations have accelerated in recent days. The club confirmed on Friday that talks with Rodri’s representatives are ongoing before submitting their opening offer.

Manchester City are keen to reach a resolution quickly as the transfer window enters a decisive stage. The club would need to find a suitable replacement if Rodri departs before the start of the new season.

Rodri endured an injury disrupted 2024 to 2025 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury. His recovery was also delayed by a hamstring problem.

Despite those setbacks, the midfielder returned to top form at this summer’s FIFA World Cup, where he played a key role in helping Spain win a second consecutive title and was named the tournament’s best player.

Rodri is currently recovering from back surgery performed last month and is expected to resume training with his Manchester City teammates early next week.

Manchester City Reject Barcelona's £38.5m Bid for Rodri — Manchester City Reject Barcelona’s £38.5m Bid for Rodri

Meanwhile, City continue negotiations over a move for Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi. However, the French club’s reported £86 million valuation remains a significant hurdle in discussions.