Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s opening £38.5m (€45m) bid for Rodri and want at least £60m before letting the Spain captain leave, the Guardian reports — a chase Real Madrid walked away from earlier this week.
The 30-year-old is understood to have agreed personal terms with Barcelona after his talks with Real Madrid broke down, and is keen on a return to Spain. Now in the final year of his City contract, the Spain international has turned down a lucrative extension. Barcelona, weighing reinforcements in the middle of the park, view him as the answer, though City are holding firm on their valuation.
What the Rodri saga means for Real Madrid
For Los Blancos, the episode still stings. José Mourinho was reportedly unhappy at seeing a long-standing target hijacked by the club’s fiercest rival, and Madrid have since redirected their summer business in the transfer market elsewhere in midfield rather than force the issue on price.
With City demanding their full asking price and Barcelona pushing for a compromise, the deal could rumble on deep into August. Barring a late twist, though, the destination for Rodri no longer appears to be the Santiago Bernabéu.
