Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri stalls as Manchester City hold out for €70m package

Manchester City have rejected a second offer from Barcelona for Spain midfielder Rodri, according to a report in The Times, leaving the proposed summer transfer facing another setback.

Barcelona followed up their initial €50m approach with an improved bid in the past few hours, but Manchester City have told the Catalan club that the new offer worth about €60m is still not enough.

The Premier League club are understood to be unwilling to consider Rodri’s departure unless Barcelona meet their valuation of €70m, with additional payments included on top of the initial fee.

The latest development represents a further obstacle for Barcelona, who are continuing to pursue a deal for the player despite having both of their offers rejected by Manchester City.

The Spanish club’s first proposal was submitted several days ago and was immediately turned down by the English side. Barcelona then returned with a second offer in an attempt to secure the services of Rodri, who is described in the report as the winner of the award for the best player at the most recent World Cup.

However, the revised bid has also failed to change Manchester City’s position. The club’s demand for €70m plus add-ons leaves a gap of about €10m between its stated valuation and Barcelona’s latest proposal.

Barcelona remain determined to complete the transfer and are expected to continue working to persuade Manchester City to allow Rodri to leave during the current summer window.

For now, Manchester City’s stance is clear: the midfielder will not be allowed to move unless the financial terms reach the level the club is seeking. Barcelona must therefore decide whether to improve their offer again as they attempt to keep negotiations alive.

The report does not indicate that an agreement has been reached between the clubs, with the second bid having been rejected and the two sides still apart over the proposed fee. Barcelona’s continued interest suggests the deal remains a priority, but Manchester City’s refusal to accept either of the offers so far means further discussions will be required before any transfer can be completed.