Manchester City is reportedly open to selling midfielder Rodri, with Barcelona accelerating their interest in signing the Spain captain. Sources indicate that City would demand a fee exceeding £60 million for the 30-year-old, who has entered the final year of his contract and has yet to sign an extension.
Initially, Real Madrid appeared to be the frontrunner for Rodri's next destination. However, Barcelona has now emerged as the leading contender after securing the player's approval to open negotiations with City. While Barcelona sources previously suggested no deal was guaranteed, the situation is described as developing.
The club confirmed on Friday that ongoing conversations are taking place with the player's representatives. Talks with Real Madrid have reportedly concluded.
Rodri experienced a disrupted 2024-25 campaign due to a significant knee injury and also dealt with a hamstring issue in the previous season. Despite these setbacks, he returned to strong form during the summer, captaining Spain to their second World Cup title and earning player of the tournament honors. He is currently recovering from back surgery performed last month and is expected to rejoin his Manchester City teammates next week.
As the transfer window progresses into early August, Manchester City aims to resolve Rodri's future promptly to facilitate the signing of a replacement. The club is also reportedly in talks to acquire 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, though Lille's asking price of £86 million is proving to be a significant obstacle.