Headline: Barcelona Secures Rodri from Manchester City for £65.4 Million
Manchester City has agreed to transfer Rodri to Barcelona for a fee of £65.4 million. The Spanish World Cup-winning captain is set to leave the Etihad Stadium to join the La Liga champions, prompting City to consider options for his replacement.
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Barcelona previously submitted two offers for Rodri, but Manchester City rejected the first, worth £38.4 million, viewing it as insufficient. However, the team’s latest bid met City’s valuation of the player.
Rodri, having entered the final year of his contract, expressed reluctance to sign an extension. City faced the risk of losing him for free if a sale did not occur during this summer transfer window. Following this new development, they now have a two-week window to find an adequate replacement.
Reports indicate that City has shown interest in Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Lille’s manager Davide Ancelotti confirming that talks regarding the Moroccan midfielder have taken place. Additionally, City has expressed consideration for Enzo Fernandez.
However, Chelsea set a deadline for bids on Fernandez, who they value at £120 million, and City did not submit an offer prior to that deadline. Reflecting on Rodri’s departure after a 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield, City manager Enzo Maresca stated: “All teams need a player like Rodri.”
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Concerning Bouaddi, Maresca noted, “He’s still a Lille player. But any new signing, any new player, for sure as soon as they arrive it’s better.”
Rodri won 11 trophies during his time with Manchester City but looks to be on his way to Barcelona (Getty)
Manchester City had already made a significant acquisition this summer, transferring Elliot Anderson for a record £116 million. However, they also experienced a loss with former captain Bernardo Silva moving to Real Madrid, and Tijjani Reijnders is nearing a £51 million transfer to Al Qadsiah.
Rodri joined City in 2019 for a then club record fee of £61 million and has since scored 28 goals in 298 appearances, notably contributing the lone goal in the 2023 Champions League final.
Throughout his tenure with the club, he collected 11 trophies, including four Premier League titles, and was awarded the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
Manchester City have accepted a bid of £65.4m from Barcelona for Rodri.
Spain’s World Cup-winning captain is set to leave the Etihad Stadium to join the LaLiga champions and leave City with the question of how to replace him.
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Barcelona had two previous offers for Rodri refused with City deeming the first, of just £38.4m, not serious but their third bid matched City’s valuation.
Rodri, who had been reluctant to sign a new deal, has entered the last year of his contract and City risked losing him on a free transfer if he was not sold this summer. Now they will have two weeks to find a replacement.
They are interested in Ayyoub Bouaddi, with Lille manager Davide Ancelotti saying there have been talks about the Moroccan midfielder, and Enzo Fernandez.
However, Chelsea had set a deadline of Friday for clubs to bid for Fernandez, who they value at £120m, and City did not submit an offer by then. After the 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, City manager Enzo Maresca said: “All teams need a player like Rodri.”
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On the subject of Bouaddi, he added: “He’s still a Lille player. But any new signing, any new player, for sure as soon as they arrive it’s better.”
Rodri won 11 trophies during his time with Manchester City but looks to be on his way to Barcelona (Getty)
City have already signed one midfielder this summer, breaking their transfer record to pay £116m for Elliot Anderson, but former captain Bernardo Silva left to join Real Madrid and they are on the brink of selling Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah for £51m.
Rodri, who was a club record £61m buy when he joined City in 2019, has scored 28 goals in 298 appearances for them, including the only goal in the 2023 Champions League final.
He won 11 trophies in total, including the Premier League four times, as well as the Ballon d’Or in 2024.
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