Rodri agreement puts Barcelona on brink of major Manchester City signing

Barcelona are close to completing the signing of Spain midfielder Rodri from Manchester City, with the agreement expected to be announced in the coming days once the remaining details of the deal have been settled.

The proposed transfer includes a fixed fee alongside performance-related payments. The two clubs have reached an almost final understanding, although some technical points concerning the financial structure must still be approved before the necessary documents can be exchanged and the contract formally signed.

According to Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona have significantly reduced the sizeable gap between Manchester City’s financial demands and their initial offer. The Catalan club reached a final agreement with the 30-year-old player several days ago.

Rodri has only one year remaining on his contract with Manchester City, a factor that has helped Barcelona make progress in negotiations. The clubs are now described as being only a few steps away from completing the paperwork, with the Spain international potentially joining Barcelona early this week.

The latest developments suggest the midfielder’s destination is now likely to be Catalonia, despite comments from Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca indicating that Rodri was expected to report to the English club on Friday to begin pre-season training.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick is keen for the transfer to be concluded as quickly as possible. He wants clarity over the squad available to him ahead of the opening La Liga fixture, which is scheduled to take place in two weeks.

The German coach also wants to assess his options across the full season before competitive matches begin. The transfer window remains open until 31 August, but completing urgent business as soon as possible has become a priority for Flick and his coaching staff.

Rodri’s apparent move to Barcelona represents a significant change in the player’s position during the transfer window. The club was not his preferred destination at the beginning of the summer, and it was not his first choice even after the end of the World Cup.

His doubts over Real Madrid played an important part in the change of direction. A near-final agreement with the Spanish club had not been officially activated, leaving the move unresolved and helping to open the way for Barcelona to advance their interest.

Flick hopes Rodri can join the rest of Barcelona’s World Cup winners at around the same time. Those players are due to return to training next Wednesday after receiving additional leave following their participation in the tournament.

Having Rodri available during that period would give Flick a better opportunity to establish his preferred starting line-up and shape his squad before the new season begins. For now, the transfer remains dependent on final approval of the outstanding financial details, but Barcelona are increasingly confident that the agreement is close to completion.