Man City Reject Barcelona's £38.5m Opening Bid for Rodri as Price Tag Exceeds £60m

August 08, 2026

Manchester City have knocked back Barcelona's opening offer for midfielder Rodri, with sources confirming the bid came in at £38.5 million. City are willing to sell but have made it clear that any deal will need to top £60 million — a significant gap that both clubs will need to bridge if this transfer is going to happen.

The 30-year-old Spanish international is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has yet to agree an extension. For most of the summer, Real Madrid looked like his most likely next destination, and talks were progressing with the Spanish giants. But that picture changed sharply on Friday when sources told BBC Sport that Barcelona had secured the player's approval to begin formal negotiations with City. Real Madrid confirmed shortly afterwards that those talks had come to an end.

It is a striking reversal. Rodri's camp had reportedly been impressed by Real Madrid's approach — with everyone from president Florentino Perez to chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez personally involved in making the case. But despite the effort and the terms laid out, Rodri made the personal decision to pursue Barcelona instead. Real stepped back, and Barca moved in swiftly.

Rodri's value to any club goes well beyond his role as a holding midfielder. He is the reigning Ballon d'Or winner, and his performances at the 2026 World Cup this summer were instrumental in Spain's run to the title — a tournament where he was named player of the competition. He missed a significant portion of the 2024-25 season with a knee injury and parts of last campaign with a hamstring problem, but when fit, there is arguably no better midfielder on the planet.

Currently, Rodri is sidelined after undergoing back surgery last month. He is expected to return to City's training base in Manchester early next week. Time is running out in the window, and City will want his situation resolved quickly — not least because they are simultaneously pursuing 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille as a potential replacement, though Lille's £86 million asking price has proven a sticking point.