Man City reject Barcelona’s £38.5m bid for Rodri
Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s opening £38.5m offer for Rodri, though the club are willing to sell the Spain midfielder for more than £60m. The situation matters because Rodri is in the final year of his contract and City want clarity soon enough to pursue a replacement before the transfer window closes.
Barcelona have the 30-year-old’s approval to negotiate and are now considered the leading contenders after talks with Real Madrid ended. Rodri, who won the 2024 Ballon d’Or and starred in Spain’s World Cup win, has recently had back surgery following injury-hit seasons; City are also discussing a move for Lille’s 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi, whose £86m valuation is proving difficult.
- City reject Barcelona’s £38.5m Rodri bid.
- City want more than £60m.
- Barcelona lead after Real Madrid talks end.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Rodri is 30 years old and has recently undergone back surgery, meaning his remaining career window is limited and durability concerns are legitimate. He has achieved everything at Manchester City, including winning the 2024 Ballon d'Or, and has clearly indicated his wish to join Barcelona for his final years. Barcelona's £38.5m offer represents fair compensation for a player in the final contract year with these specific circumstances. Accepting the transfer would grant the player dignity in his twilight years whilst providing City adequate compensation and the certainty needed to pursue suitable replacements.
The case against
Rodri remains one of the world's elite midfielders and only just won the Ballon d'Or, making him essential to Manchester City's competitive prospects. With one year remaining on his contract, City holds substantial leverage and should secure over £60m for a midfielder of this calibre—accepting significantly less would undervalue their asset and hamstring their rebuilding efforts. Club interests in financial prudence and sporting success must take precedence in transfer decisions, and City's firm stance is entirely justified in ensuring adequate replacement resources before the market closes.