Manchester City have dismissed an early approach from FC Barcelona for their midfield anchor Rodri, deeming the proposal far below the valuation they have set for the 30‑year‑old Spaniard. Barcelona’s opening bid, which the English club rejected, hovered around £40 million, whereas City are reportedly looking for a figure in excess of £60 million, reflecting Rodri’s status as a key player and the fact that he is entering the final year of his current contract. With the two sides unable to bridge the gap, negotiations have stalled for the time being.
However, Barcelona are not abandoning their pursuit. Insiders in Spain indicate that the Catalan giants are preparing a second, more substantial offer that could be tabled in the coming days. The belief among Spanish sources is that Rodri would favour a move to Barcelona over a potential switch to Real Madrid, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the transfer saga. City, for their part, have made it clear they do not wish to part with the World Cup‑winning captain of Spain.
Their preferred route is to secure a fresh long‑term deal that keeps him at the Etihad beyond the expiry of his current agreement. Nonetheless, the club has also signalled that if Rodri were to request a transfer, they would not stand in his way, preferring to avoid a protracted standoff that could disrupt squad harmony. While Manchester City weigh their options for a possible replacement, reports from Sky in Italy suggest that Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández is the target that manager Enzo Maresca would love to bring to the Premier League.
Earlier this summer, Sky Sports News noted that Fernández was not on City’s radar at that moment because retaining Rodri was their top priority. The fluid nature of the situation means that City could conceivably pursue two midfield signings if Rodri eventually departs for Barcelona.
Fernández is set to return to Chelsea training next week after playing a starring role in Argentina’s run to the World Cup final. Despite being tied to the Blues until 2032, his future remains uncertain; Chelsea have placed a £120 million price tag on the Argentine, and the player has been linked with a move away after expressing a desire to live in Madrid. He and his agent later apologised for those comments and are now seeking improved contract terms at Chelsea. Real Madrid have publicly denied any interest in Fernández, even as the Argentine enjoys a strong working relationship with Maresca, who previously coached him at Chelsea.
The situation illustrates the complex web of interests surrounding top midfield talent in Europe this summer. Former Liverpool defender and pundit Jamie Carragher weighed in on the Rodri deal, questioning the wisdom of accepting a £40‑50 million offer.
He argued that for a club of City’s stature, retaining a player of Rodri’s calibre – arguably the best central midfielder in the Premier League – makes far more sense than cashing in for a modest sum. Carragher highlighted Rodri’s World Cup performances, his partnership with Bernardo Silva in the latter half of the season, and his importance to City’s title ambitions. He suggested that even a free transfer would be preferable to losing such a pivotal figure for a relatively low fee. Laura Hunter of Sky Sports echoed the sentiment, describing Rodri as the most complete central midfielder to have featured in the Premier League over the past five years.
She quoted Pep Guardiola, who has called Rodri "the best midfielder in the world by far," and noted that City’s style of play under Guardiola has been built around Rodri’s ability to dictate tempo, receive the ball under pressure, and control the flow of matches. Hunter pointed out that City’s failure to retain the Premier League crown in the two seasons when Rodri was sidelined by injury underscores his impact.
With Rodri potentially on the move, the question of his replacement looms large. City have already begun integrating 23‑year‑old English midfielder Elliot Anderson into the squad.
While Anderson is not yet a direct replica of Rodri, his box‑to‑box energy and growing statistical output suggest he could develop into a comparable presence in the midfield. Anderson may also fill the void left by Bernardo Silva, who recently transferred to Real Madrid, offering City a youthful alternative who can learn from the seasoned Spaniard. In summary, Manchester City have rebuffed Barcelona’s initial £40 million bid for Rodri, demanding a price nearer to £60 million.
The Catalans are expected to return with a higher offer, while City remain keen to keep their Spanish captain or, at the very least, secure a satisfactory transfer fee. Meanwhile, the market for elite midfielders continues to swirl, with Enzo Fernández emerging as a potential target for both City and other top clubs, and Elliot Anderson poised to step up as a home‑grown option for the Blues. The coming weeks will determine whether Rodri stays in Manchester, heads to Barcelona, or perhaps embarks on an entirely different adventure, and how City will reshape their midfield engine to maintain their competitive edge in both domestic and European competitions.