Manchester City have rejected an opening bid of £38.5m from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri, with the club demanding more than £60m before sanctioning a sale.
The 30-year-old Spaniard is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has yet to sign a new deal, leaving his future uncertain heading into the closing weeks of the transfer window.
Barcelona have emerged as the frontrunners for his signature after securing the player’s approval to begin negotiations with City.
The formal offer was submitted on Friday. Real Madrid, who had previously been considered his likely destination, have since ended their pursuit.
Rodri missed much of the 2024-25 season through a serious knee injury and was further hampered by a hamstring problem last term.
He returned to his best form at this summer’s World Cup, helping Spain win the title while being named player of the tournament, adding to his 2024 Ballon d’Or triumph.
He is currently recovering from back surgery and is expected to rejoin City training in Manchester early next week.
City are looking to resolve his future quickly in order to pursue a replacement, with talks ongoing to sign 18-year-old Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.
Lille’s £86m valuation of the player remains a sticking point in that deal.
Spanish radio network Cadena Ser reported that Real Madrid had made Rodri an “irresistible” offer shortly after Spain’s World Cup win, with talks beginning within days of the tournament.
The report said Real’s hierarchy, including president Florentino Perez and chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez, were directly involved in pursuing the deal, but Rodri ultimately chose to accept a rival offer instead.
Real Madrid were informed of his decision on Friday and withdrew from the process, thanking the player for the respectful manner in which talks were conducted.
(The Whistler)