Man City Rejects £55m Barcelona Bid for Rodri Amid Midfield Changes
Manchester City have turned down a fresh £55m offer from Barcelona for Rodri, digging in their heels over the future of one of their most important players.
Barca saw an opening proposal of around £40m rejected last week. They came back stronger, edging their bid into the £50m–£60m bracket on Wednesday, but City still said no. The Catalan club remain intent on landing the Spain captain and are now weighing up their next move.
City’s stance is clear: they want upwards of £60m for the 30-year-old, who is into the final year of his contract. Talks between the clubs are ongoing, but the Premier League champions are not acting like a side eager to cash in.
Inside the Etihad, the preference is to keep Rodri and tie him to a new deal. He is the heartbeat of their midfield and the leader of Spain’s World Cup-winning side. City have no desire to lose him. The one caveat? If Rodri formally asks to leave, they are prepared not to stand in his way.
That possibility hangs over a summer in which City’s midfield could be reshaped on multiple fronts.
Reijnders talks advance as Saudi side push for deal
While they fight to keep Rodri, City are also deep in negotiations that could see another central midfielder depart.
The club are in advanced and positive talks with Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah over a deal for Tijjani Reijnders, with a package worth around £51.3m (€60m) under discussion. Qadsiah view Reijnders as a world-class, peak-age signing and want him to anchor their midfield ahead of their first Asian Champions League campaign.
Their ambition is obvious. A new Aramco Stadium is about to open, continental football is on the horizon, and they want a marquee presence in the middle of the pitch. Reijnders fits that brief.
If both situations move, City could lose two central midfielders in the same window. That prospect has already shaped their recruitment plans.
Enzo and Bouaddi on the radar
City are prepared for change. They are exploring the market with a view to bringing in up to two midfielders, with interest registered in Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi.
The message from Manchester is defiant but pragmatic. They want to keep Rodri. They are ready to sell Reijnders at the right price. And they are lining up elite reinforcements if the dominoes start to fall.
Barcelona have made their play. Al Qadsiah are pushing hard. The next decision belongs to City – and, crucially, to Rodri himself.
