Manchester City set €70m price as Barcelona’s Rodri pursuit stalls

Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s latest approach for Rodri, with the Premier League club valuing the midfielder at €70m and showing no willingness to accept a lower fee for one of their key players.

Reports earlier on Tuesday said Barcelona had submitted an offer worth €50m for the Spain international, but that proposal was turned down by City.

According to Sport, Barcelona are prepared to increase their bid to €60m for Rodri, who was named the best player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, that figure is still below the asking price set by the English club.

Despite Rodri’s good relationship with Barcelona, City do not want to allow the 30-year-old to leave for what they regard as a modest fee. The midfielder, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or, remains an important part of their squad.

Marca reported on Tuesday that an agreement between the two European giants remains some way off. City have placed a €70m valuation on Rodri, and that is the minimum sum they would require before considering a sale.

The club’s stance is also influenced by the cost of finding a replacement. City are understood to be considering Lyon’s Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez among their possible targets.

Bouaddi’s potential transfer fee is expected to exceed €100m, with AS putting the figure as high as €130m. The scale of that prospective investment is one reason City are insisting on receiving a substantial amount for Rodri.

Barcelona, however, do not intend to meet the price demanded by City, leaving the proposed transfer at an impasse.

A meeting between Manchester City sporting director Hugo Viana and his Barcelona counterpart Deco is expected to take place soon. That discussion could determine whether the Catalan club is willing to revise its position or whether negotiations will break down.

Barcelona had hoped Rodri would return on Wednesday to begin pre-season training with the club. That timetable may now have to be delayed while the two sides continue to discuss the fee.

The midfielder is expected to travel to Manchester to resume training with City unless Barcelona can reduce the asking price and complete the deal in the coming hours.