Rodri latest: Barcelona race to complete Manchester City deal before training deadline

Barcelona are continuing to advance their bid to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri, but the proposed transfer remains unresolved as talks enter a potentially decisive phase.

The Catalan club have already submitted a second offer for the player, while Manchester City are asking for €80m. Negotiations made progress over the weekend, although all parties are still proceeding cautiously because no final agreement has been reached.

City manager Enzo Maresca said: “At the moment, it seems that Rodri will be in Manchester next Wednesday.”

Maresca’s comments reflect the current contractual position rather than necessarily signalling a change in the negotiations. Until the transfer is formally completed, Rodri remains a Manchester City player and is therefore expected to follow the training schedule already set by the club.

The Italian manager’s position is understandable, given that he is protecting his side’s interests and continues to rely on Rodri while the midfielder remains officially part of Manchester City’s squad.

What happens in the coming hours could be different, particularly if Barcelona and the English club manage to settle the final details of a deal that has moved forward in recent days. Barcelona have used the latest period to take further steps towards completing the signing.

The club’s priority is to accelerate the transfer as much as possible so Rodri can join Hansi Flick’s squad without further delay. Flick wants the new arrival available almost immediately and is keen for the midfielder to become part of his plans at the earliest opportunity.

Barcelona’s specific target is for Rodri to be at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper on 12 August. That date is placing additional pressure on everyone involved to conclude the negotiations quickly if the player is to train with the squad on time.

However, the agreement should not yet be regarded as certain. Sources familiar with the discussions called for calm on Friday because several issues still required resolution before the transfer could be considered complete.

For that reason, Maresca’s remarks should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that the move has stalled or that the situation has changed significantly. Instead, they describe the reality of the deal at this moment: Rodri remains contracted to Manchester City until the final approval is given.

If Barcelona receive the necessary green light and the remaining details are settled, the next stage will be for Rodri to say goodbye to Manchester before travelling to Barcelona. Until then, the midfielder is expected to remain in Manchester and continue operating under Manchester City’s existing plans.