Manchester City Accept Barcelona Bid as Rodri Move Nears

Manchester City have accepted a £65.4 million bid from Barcelona for Rodri, leaving the Spain midfielder set to move to the Catalan club, according to the Guardian. The report describes the transfer as approaching completion rather than finished, so the deal remains a proposed move at this stage. Rodri is 30 and has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium.

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The Guardian reports that Rodri had indicated he wanted the opportunity to join Barcelona. City had previously rejected an offer of about €60 million, or £51 million, after an initial proposal of €45 million, valued at £38.5 million. The latest bid was accepted after City had been unable to persuade the midfielder to extend a contract due to expire next summer.

City head coach Enzo Maresca discussed Rodri after Sunday's 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal, describing him as a leading player wanted by every team. Rodri had returned to City on Friday following back surgery after the World Cup. The Guardian reported that Maresca welcomed him back, but the midfielder's preference and contract position left the club facing a decision over a sale.

Rodri has spent seven seasons at Manchester City. During that period he won four Premier League titles and scored the only goal in City's 2023 Champions League final victory over Inter. He won the Ballon d'Or the following year, although an anterior cruciate ligament injury kept him out for most of the 2024-25 season. Hamstring and groin problems later restricted him to 33 appearances in Pep Guardiola's final campaign as manager.

The potential departure comes during a major overhaul of City's midfield. The club has spent £116 million on Elliot Anderson and has agreed to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah, according to the report. Bernardo Silva has also left, increasing the need for Maresca to add options before the new season begins.

City are now reported to be closing in on Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, the Morocco international who impressed at the World Cup. Lille had initially wanted a deal to include a 12-month loan back to the French club, but the Guardian says Maresca wants the 18-year-old available this season. City have also been linked with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and retain an interest, though neither that possibility nor the Bouaddi transfer is described as complete.