Manchester City have firmly rejected Barcelona's opening bid for midfielder Rodri, deeming the offer far below the club's valuation. Barcelona initially tabled a proposal in the region of £40 million, a figure that City consider insufficient for a player of Rodri's calibre.
The English side is now demanding a fee of at least £60 million for the 30‑year‑old, who is currently in the final year of his contract with the Sky Blues. The stalled negotiations mean that any immediate transfer is off the table, at least for the moment. Nevertheless, Barcelona are not abandoning their pursuit. Sources close to the Catalan club say they intend to return with a more competitive offer in the coming days, hoping to persuade the Spanish international to make the move.
According to insiders in Spain, Rodri appears to favour a switch to Barcelona over a potential switch to Real Madrid. The midfielder, who captained Spain to World Cup glory, has expressed admiration for Barcelona’s style of play and the club’s project. However, City have made it clear they would rather secure a fresh contract with the player than see him leave for a rival.
Should Rodri submit a formal request to depart, Manchester City have indicated they would not stand in his way, but they would prefer to retain his services for as long as possible. While the Catalan side prepares its next move, City are already contemplating possible replacements.
Sky Sports Italy has reported that Chelsea’s young Argentine midfielder Enzo Fernández is the dream target of City manager Pep Guardiola’s assistant, Enzo Maresca. Earlier this summer, Sky Sports News noted that Fernández was not a priority for City, as the club’s main focus was to keep Rodri. The situation remains fluid, and if Rodri eventually joins Barcelona, City could look to bring in two new midfielders to fill the void. Fernández, who will return to Chelsea training next week after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina, remains under contract until 2032.
Chelsea have placed a £120 million valuation on him, despite recent uncertainty about his future. The Argentine was omitted from two matches in April after publicly stating a desire to live in Madrid, prompting an apology from him and his agent and a request for improved terms at Chelsea. Real Madrid have publicly denied any interest in signing Fernández, although he enjoyed a strong working relationship with Maresca during the Italian’s stint at Chelsea. Former player and pundit Jamie Carragher weighed in on the situation for Sky Sports, arguing that a £40‑50 million fee makes little sense for a club like Manchester City.
"If you're Manchester City, what's the point in selling them? You might as well keep them for the extra year," Carragher said.
He praised Rodri as possibly the best central midfielder in the Premier League, citing his World Cup performances as evidence of his return to peak form. CarrCarragher highlighted the importance of Rodri and Bernardo Silva in the latter part of the season, suggesting that losing Rodri would be a massive blow.
He even suggested that City would be better off letting Rodri leave on a free transfer rather than accepting a low fee that would not significantly improve the club’s finances. Laura Hunter of Sky Sports echoed the sentiment, describing Rodri as the most complete central midfielder to have played 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." Under Guardiola, City’s tactical approach has often revolved around Rodri’s ability to control tempo, receive the ball in tight spaces, and dictate play. His influence was also evident in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign, where he helped the national team dominate possession and transition effectively. Hunter noted that City’s failure to retain the Premier League title in the two seasons when Rodri was sidelined by injury underscores his importance. The question now is how City will replace him.
One possible answer lies in the emergence of Elliot Anderson, a 23‑year‑old English box‑to‑box midfielder who has begun to make an impact. While Anderson is not yet on the same level as Rodri, his work rate and statistical output suggest he could develop into a suitable successor.
He may also fill the creative gap left by Bernardo Silva’s recent departure to Real Madrid. In summary, the current impasse reflects Barcelona’s desire to secure a world‑class midfielder and Manchester City’s determination to either keep their captain or receive a fee that reflects his true market value. The next few weeks will likely see renewed negotiations, with Barcelona possibly upping their offer and City weighing the benefits of a new contract against the potential financial gain from a sale.
Meanwhile, the club’s scouting network continues to monitor talent such as Enzo Fernández, while young prospects like Elliot Anderson are being groomed to step up when the time comes. The outcome will shape the midfield dynamics of both clubs and could have a lasting impact on the Premier League title race and La Liga’s championship chase. (Word count: 639)