Manchester City have once again turned down Barcelona's latest attempt to secure the services of their midfield linchpin, Rodri, with the Catalan club reportedly putting forward a fresh bid in the region of £55 million. This follows an earlier proposal of roughly £40 million that was rejected last week, indicating that Barcelona is willing to increase its valuation but still falls short of the price City deems appropriate. According to Sky Sports News, the Spanish giants were expected to raise their offer to somewhere between £50 million and £60 million. Even at the higher end of that spectrum, the proposal does not meet Manchester City’s asking price, which is believed to be north of £60 million for the 30‑year‑old Spanish international.
Rodri, who is entering the final year of his current contract, remains a pivotal figure in Pep Guardiola’s side, and City are keen to either secure a new deal with him or, if the player wishes to leave, to receive a fee that reflects his importance. The situation is further complicated by City’s own transfer activity.
While they are holding firm on Rodri, the club has confirmed a sale of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah for an estimated £51 million. Reijnders, who arrived from AC Milan in the previous summer, has expressed a desire to move on and now appears set to join the Saudi Pro League. This transaction, combined with the earlier departure of forward James Trafford and the relatively modest fee received for defender Nathan Ake’s move to Turkey, means Manchester City have already generated over £100 million in outgoing transfers this window. The influx of cash from these sales puts City in a stronger negotiating position as they look to reinforce their squad.
The club has been linked with two promising midfield talents: Enzo Fernández, currently at Chelsea, and Ayyoub Bouaddi, a youngster from Lille. Chelsea have reportedly given City a deadline of Friday 5 p.m. to submit a £120 million bid for Fernández, while discussions about Bouaddi continue. If City can secure a substantial fee for Rodri – say £70 million – and combine it with the £50 million from Reijnders, they would have roughly £120 million at their disposal, matching the amount Chelsea is seeking for Fernández.
Sky Sports’ James Savundra summed up the scenario, noting that the Reijnders deal represents another significant sale for Manchester City, boosting their financial flexibility in this busy transfer period. He highlighted that the club’s ability to bring in over £100 million from sales, when combined with the potential high‑value fee for Rodri, would give them ample resources to compete for top‑class midfield options. Barcelona, on the other hand, remain resolute in their pursuit of Rodri. The Spanish side view the midfielder as a critical addition to their squad, especially after a season that saw them fall short of their domestic and European ambitions.
Their willingness to increase the bid demonstrates a serious intent, but City’s stance suggests they value Rodri not just in monetary terms but also for his tactical importance and leadership on the pitch. The club has publicly stated that they would prefer to negotiate a contract extension with the World Cup‑winning captain rather than see him depart.
Nonetheless, they have also made it clear that should Rodri decide to leave, they will not obstruct his move. In summary, Manchester City have rebuffed Barcelona’s revised £55 million offer for Rodri, maintaining a price tag above £60 million.
Simultaneously, they have completed the sale of Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah for around £51 million, adding to a series of outgoing transfers that have bolstered their financial standing. The club now faces the challenge of either securing a new contract with Rodri or finding a suitable replacement, with potential targets including Enzo Fernández and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
Barcelona’s determination to acquire the Spanish midfielder remains strong, setting the stage for further negotiations in the coming weeks.