Manchester City have once again turned down a fresh proposal from FC Barcelona for their midfield lynchpin Rodri, a move that underscores the English club's determination to retain the Spanish World Cup champion. The latest bid, reportedly in the region of £55 million, falls short of the price tag City are prepared to accept, and the club has made it clear that the offer does not meet their valuation. The saga began last week when Barcelona initially tabled an offer that hovered around £40 million.
City promptly rejected that figure, stating that it undervalued the 30‑year‑old’s contribution to the squad. According to Sky Sports News, Barcelona subsequently raised the sum, aiming for a range between £50 million and £60 million.
Even with the increased amount, the Catalan side’s proposal remains insufficient in the eyes of the Premier League giants. Rodri, whose contract is set to expire at the end of the current season, is a pivotal figure in Pep Guardiola’s side. The midfielder has been instrumental in City’s domestic dominance and European campaigns, providing a blend of defensive solidity, intelligent distribution, and occasional goal‑scoring.
City have publicly indicated that they are seeking a fee of at least £60 million for the player, a figure that reflects both his on‑field importance and the market premium attached to a World Cup‑winning captain. Negotiations are ongoing, and while Barcelona remain eager to secure the midfielder’s services, they must now decide whether to further inflate their offer or explore alternative targets. The Spanish club’s persistence signals a genuine belief that Rodri can still be persuaded to join, especially if they can present a compelling sporting project and a lucrative contract. From City’s perspective, the club’s official stance, as reported by Sky Sports earlier this summer, is that they would prefer to see Rodri sign a new deal rather than leave on a free transfer.
However, the club has also made it clear that should the player express a desire to move, they would not obstruct his departure. This balanced approach allows City to retain leverage while respecting the player’s personal ambitions. In parallel with the Rodri negotiations, Manchester City have confirmed the sale of Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders to Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah. The transfer fee is believed to be around £51 million, marking another significant outbound deal for the English outfit this window.
Reijnders, who arrived from AC Milan last summer, has expressed a wish to relocate, and the move to the Saudi Pro League appears to satisfy both his personal goals and the club’s financial strategy. The departure of Reijnders, combined with the earlier exit of James Trafford and the modest fee received for Nathan Ake’s move to Turkey, means City have generated over £100 million in sales during this transfer period. This influx of capital strengthens their position in the market, giving them greater flexibility to pursue new signings while also balancing the books.
Indeed, City are reportedly eyeing at least two midfield reinforcements to offset the potential loss of Rodri and to bolster squad depth. Argentine talent Enzo Fernandez and French youngster Ayyoub Bouaddi have emerged as prime targets.
Chelsea have already set a deadline of Friday 5 pm for City to respond to a £120 million bid for Fernandez, indicating the high stakes involved. Meanwhile, negotiations with Lille over Bouaddi continue, with the French club keen to secure a favorable deal. James Savundra of Sky Sports highlighted the strategic advantage City gain from these transactions: "The Tijjani Reijnders news means Man City are making another major sale, they are bringing in over £100 million in sales in this transfer window when you account for James Trafford departing and some smaller sales, such as Nathan Ake going to Turkey.
It means they are in a better position in terms of negotiating and what money they've got left to spend in this transfer window. If they do get big money for Rodri, you match up £70 million with £50 million and that gets you to £120 million – which is what Chelsea want for Enzo Fernandez!" In summary, Manchester City have firmly rejected Barcelona’s latest £55 million overture for Rodri, maintaining a price expectation of at least £60 million.
The club’s willingness to negotiate a new contract with the Spanish midfielder remains, but they will not settle for a figure they deem insufficient. At the same time, the sale of Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah for roughly £51 million adds to a series of lucrative exits that enhance City’s financial flexibility. With the potential departure of Rodri looming, City are actively scouting replacements, focusing on Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi as the next midfield acquisitions.
The upcoming days will be crucial in determining whether City can retain their World Cup‑winning captain or if Barcelona will finally succeed in luring him to the Camp Nou.