Barcelona are preparing to make a formal approach to Manchester City in order to secure the services of midfield anchor Rodri, and they are confident they can outmaneuver their domestic rivals in the pursuit of the Spanish captain, according to sources at Sky Sports News. The World Cup-winning Spaniard, who also captains the national side, is a coveted target for both of Spain's football powerhouses, and he is now entering the final year of his contract with City, which adds urgency to any potential move.
Sky Sports News reports that Real Madrid have already opened talks with Manchester City as early as last week, indicating a willingness to meet a valuation of around £50 million for the player. Meanwhile, Barcelona have reportedly received positive signals that their chances of landing Rodri are improving, especially after the club intensified its interest over the past 24 hours.
The Catalan side believe that if Rodri decides to leave the Premier League this summer, they stand a realistic chance of completing the deal before the transfer window closes. Despite the mounting interest, City are reluctant to part with their key midfield figure.
The club’s hierarchy is hoping to persuade Rodri to sign a fresh, long‑term contract that would keep him at the Etihad for the next several seasons and allow him to play a leading role in the new era that manager Enzo Maresca is set to usher in. Rodri’s recent back surgery, performed shortly after the World Cup, has delayed his return to full fitness. Medical staff expect him to miss the Community Shield clash with Arsenal as well as Manchester City's opening Premier League fixture, meaning he will be unavailable for the first few weeks of the campaign.
In a separate storyline, Florentino Pérez, who was re‑elected as Real Madrid president, faced criticism for the relatively low number of Madrid players who represented Spain at the summer tournament. The club, however, has already moved to sign left‑back Marc Cucurella from Chelsea, and internal sources say that the majority of the Madrid board are now backing a bid for Rodri.
The Spanish giants are reportedly reviewing their budget to determine whether they need to increase the offer beyond the £50 million figure that Real initially floated. Former defender and pundit Jamie Carragher, speaking for Sky Sports, weighed in on the financial aspect of a possible sale. He questioned the logic of Manchester City letting go of a player of Rodri’s calibre for a fee in the £40‑50 million range, noting that the club originally paid around £60 million for him.
Carragher argued that retaining Rodri would be the sensible choice unless an extraordinary offer emerged, especially given the midfielder’s pivotal role in City’s recent successes and his influence on the pitch during the World Cup, where he appeared to be at his peak form. Laura Hunter, also of Sky Sports, highlighted Rodri’s importance from a tactical perspective. She cited Pep Guardiola’s description of him as "the best midfielder in the world by far" and explained how City’s style of play under Guardiola has been built around Rodri’s ability to receive the ball in tight spaces, dictate tempo, and control the flow of the game. She pointed out that City’s failure to retain the Premier League title in the two seasons when Rodri was sidelined by injury underscores his value to the team.
Hunter added that while young England international Elliot Anderson shows promise as a box‑to‑box midfielder, he is not yet a full replacement for Rodri’s unique blend of defensive solidity and distribution. If Barcelona succeed in signing Rodri, the move would represent a significant shift in the balance of power within La Liga, potentially giving the Catalans a midfield lynchpin capable of anchoring both defensive duties and initiating attacks.
The club would likely integrate him into a system that emphasizes possession and quick transitions, complementing the talents of players such as Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati. Moreover, Rodri’s experience as a World Cup winner and his leadership qualities could prove invaluable in guiding a relatively young Barcelona side back to the summit of Spanish football. Conversely, should Real Madrid secure the midfielder, they would add a player who has already demonstrated his ability to dominate matches on the biggest stages. Rodri would fit seamlessly into a Madrid midfield that already boasts the likes of Luka Modrić and Toni Kroos, providing a more physical, ball‑winning presence that could enhance the team’s defensive stability while maintaining creative output.
A successful acquisition would also signal Real’s intent to re‑assert themselves in Europe after a period of relative under‑achievement. In either scenario, Manchester City faces a dilemma: retain a world‑class midfielder who is integral to their tactical identity, or accept a sizable fee that could be reinvested in other areas of the squad. With the transfer window now in its final days, the negotiations are expected to intensify, and fans of all three clubs will be watching closely to see where Rodri’s future ultimately lies.
The outcome will not only affect the immediate composition of the teams involved but could also shape the competitive landscape of both the Premier League and La Liga for the coming seasons.