Manchester City are reportedly prepared to part ways with Spain midfielder Rodri this summer, but the Premier League champions are demanding more than £60 million for the 30-year-old.
Barcelona have emerged as the leading contenders for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, with their interest gathering pace as the midfielder enters the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri is yet to agree a new deal with City, leaving his future increasingly uncertain ahead of the new season.
While Real Madrid had previously been regarded as the midfielder’s most likely destination, talks between the Spanish giants and Rodri have now ended, with Barcelona moving to the front of the queue.
Sources indicate that Barcelona have received the player’s approval to begin negotiations with Manchester City, while the Catalan club confirmed that discussions with Rodri’s representatives are ongoing.
City are keen to resolve the situation quickly, particularly with the transfer window approaching its final stages, as they would need time to secure a replacement should Rodri leave.
The midfielder has endured injury problems in recent seasons, missing a significant portion of the 2024-25 campaign after suffering a serious knee injury before a hamstring problem disrupted parts of the following season.
However, Rodri returned to top form at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping Spain win the tournament for a second time and being named the competition’s best player.
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He is currently sidelined after undergoing back surgery last month and is expected to return to Manchester and rejoin his City teammates early next week.
Meanwhile, Manchester City are pursuing Lille’s highly rated 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi as a potential replacement.
However, Lille are understood to be demanding around £86 million for the teenager, a figure that could complicate City’s efforts to complete the deal.
Real Madrid pull out of Rodri race
Real Madrid had made a major effort to sign Rodri following Spain’s World Cup triumph.
According to reports from Spain, the Madrid club presented what was described as an “irresistible” offer and held positive discussions with the player’s representatives.
However, Rodri has now opted for another proposal, prompting Real Madrid to withdraw from the negotiations rather than allow the uncertainty to continue.
The Spanish midfielder has been a key figure for Manchester City since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and has made almost 200 appearances for the club.
His potential departure would represent a major change for Pep Guardiola’s side, who are now faced with the task of either keeping their influential midfielder or finding a suitable replacement before the transfer window closes.
