Manchester City reject €45m Barcelona bid for Rodri

By Simon Peach, Press Association Chief Football Writer

Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s €45 million opening bid for key man Rodri, the Press Association understands.

The 30-year-old only has a season remaining on his deal at the Etihad Stadium and has been strongly linked with a return to Spain.

Real Madrid had hoped to sign Rodri, but Barca have moved ahead in the race for his signature, although their opening bid in the region of €45 million was rejected out of hand by City.

Enzo Maresca’s side are understood to instead want around 80m euros (£68.5m) for a player who last month not only won the World Cup but was named player of the tournament.

Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019, playing a part in four Premier League title triumphs and the 2023 Champions League victory during a success-laden period under former boss Pep Guardiola.

The midfielder won Euro 2024 and that year’s Ballon d’Or, only for a serious knee injury to rule him out of much of the 2024-25 campaign.

Rodri managed 33 appearances in all competitions last term before heading to the World Cup with Spain.