Manchester City have firmly rejected an opening proposal from FC Barcelona for their midfielder Rodri, deeming the offer far below the club's valuation. Barcelona initially tabled a sum in the vicinity of £40 million, a figure that City consider insufficient for a player of Rodri's calibre, especially given that the 30‑year‑old is entering the final year of his contract.
Manchester City are now demanding a fee that tops £60 million, reflecting both the player's importance to the squad and the market rate for a world‑class central midfielder. Because of this stark disparity in expectations, negotiations have stalled and no further talks are scheduled at present. However, Barcelona have signalled that they are not prepared to abandon their pursuit.
Sources close to the Catalan club suggest a revised offer will be submitted in the coming days, aiming to bridge the gap and persuade City to reconsider. Spanish insiders also note that Rodri appears to favour a move to Barcelona over a potential switch to Real Madrid.
The Spaniard, who captained his nation to World Cup glory, has expressed admiration for the club’s playing philosophy and its historic stature, making the Catalan side an attractive destination for the midfielder. City, on the other hand, have made it clear they would rather retain their World Cup‑winning captain than see him depart. The club is actively working on a new contract extension that would keep Rodri at the Etihad for the foreseeable future.
Nonetheless, the Manchester outfit has also indicated that if the player ultimately decides to leave, they would not stand in his way, preferring to avoid a protracted and potentially disruptive dispute. While the City board weighs its options for a possible replacement, reports from Sky in Italy have highlighted Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández as a prime target for Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca.
Earlier this summer, Sky Sports News reported that Fernández was not on City’s radar because retaining Rodri was the primary priority. The fluid nature of the transfer market means that circumstances could shift quickly; if Rodri were to move to Barcelona, City might look to bring in both Fernández and another midfielder to fill the void. Fernández, who helped Argentina reach the World Cup final, is due back at Chelsea training next week. Despite being tied to the Blues until 2032, his future remains uncertain.
Chelsea have placed a £120 million valuation on the Argentine, while the player was recently omitted from two matches in April after expressing a desire to live in Madrid. Both Fernández and his agent later issued apologies for those comments and are now seeking improved contractual terms at Chelsea. Real Madrid have publicly denied any interest in signing Fernández, even though he enjoyed a strong working relationship with Maresca during the Italian’s tenure at Chelsea.
This adds another layer of complexity to the potential moves of both midfielders. Former Liverpool defender and pundit Jamie Carragher weighed in on the situation, questioning the logic of a £40‑50 million sale for a player of Rodri’s stature. He argued that City would be better off keeping the midfielder for the remaining year of his contract, noting that Rodri’s performances at the World Cup demonstrated he was back at his peak.
Carragher praised Rodri’s partnership with Bernardo Silva, which he believed almost secured the Premier League title for City, and warned that losing the Spaniard would create a significant hole in the squad. Carragher also highlighted the financial imprudence of selling a player bought for £60 million for less than that amount, suggesting the club would gain little from such a transaction. He emphasized that without Rodri, City’s chances of retaining the league crown would be severely diminished, despite the presence of other midfield talents like Elliot Anderson, a promising youngster who could learn from Rodri’s example. Laura Hunter of Sky Sports echoed the sentiment, describing Rodri as the most complete central midfielder to have graced the Premier League in the last five years.
She quoted Pep Guardiola, who has repeatedly called Rodri "the best midfielder in the world by far." Under Guardiola’s system, Rodri has been the fulcrum of City’s in‑play strategy, dictating tempo, retaining possession under pressure, and orchestrating attacks. His influence was also evident in Spain’s triumphant World Cup campaign, where he controlled games with the same composure. 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 if he departs.
One potential answer lies in Elliot Anderson, a 23‑year‑old English international who has already shown box‑to‑box capabilities and is beginning to produce numbers comparable to Rodri’s. While Anderson is not yet a midfield dictator, his development trajectory suggests he could evolve into a player capable of filling at least part of the void. In summary, the stalemate between Manchester City and Barcelona revolves around a significant valuation gap for Rodri.
Barcelona are preparing a higher bid, while City remain steadfast in their desire either to keep the Spanish captain or to secure a substantial fee if he leaves. Meanwhile, the potential arrival of Enzo Fernández and the emergence of Elliot Anderson add further intrigue to the midfield reshuffle that could shape City’s fortunes in the upcoming season.