Barcelona set €50m limit as Rodri negotiations with Manchester City continue

Barcelona have moved quickly to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri after receiving the player’s approval for a move, but their opening proposal has failed to meet the English club’s valuation.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Barcelona offered €45m up front with a further €10m available in add-ons. Manchester City are not prepared to accept those terms and continue to value Rodri at a higher figure.

Manchester City previously established a €65m asking price in discussions with Real Madrid and are still holding to that valuation, although there remains room for negotiation between the clubs.

Rodri could become directly involved in those talks because of his standing at Manchester City. The midfielder is considered an important figure within the squad and has earned the right to have a decisive role in determining his future.

Barcelona believe the situation gives them leverage because Rodri has only one year remaining on his current contract. The Catalan club also considers the player’s agreement to join them a significant advantage and therefore does not expect a bidding war for his signature.

During the initial discussions, people close to Rodri told Barcelona that Manchester City were seeking €65m for the transfer.

Barcelona have set a firm ceiling for the guaranteed part of the deal. They will not pay more than €50m in fixed fees, although performance-related additions could take the overall value of the transfer close to €60m. That is the figure Barcelona regard as fair for the player.

The two clubs are understood to have a positive relationship, and Sport reports that they could reach a final agreement over the course of the current weekend. Any deal would allow the transfer to move forward after the initial gap between Barcelona’s proposal and Manchester City’s demands.

Barcelona have also been working on the financial terms of Rodri’s contract. The club was already aware of his salary expectations, with the midfielder among Manchester City’s highest-paid players. He had also received a contract-renewal offer from the Premier League club.

Despite that existing offer, Barcelona have worked on Rodri’s requested figures and reached a preliminary agreement on a contract covering the next four seasons. The proposed deal with the player is therefore in place in principle, subject to the clubs finalising the transfer fee.

If negotiations are concluded in the coming days, Rodri could travel to Barcelona next week to complete the next stage of the move. For now, however, Manchester City remain unwilling to accept Barcelona’s first bid and continue to seek a package closer to their €65m valuation.