Man City reject Barca’s opening offer for Rodri

Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s opening offer of £38.5m for Spanish midfielder Rodri on Friday.

According to a BBC Sport report, City are open to selling the 30-year-old, but would consider the transfer for double or more than Barca’s opening offer.

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Spain’s World Cup-winning captain has entered the final year of his contract at Etihad Stadium and is yet to sign a new deal, which remains on the table.

Real Madrid looked to be front-runners for Rodri’s signature but LaLiga champions Barcelona are now believed to be his preference if he leaves City this summer. According to the report, talks with Real have now ended.

Rodri missed much of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining a serious knee injury, and parts of last season were disrupted by a hamstring issue. However, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner was back to his best at the World Cup in the summer, leading Spain to their second title and being named player of the tournament.

Rodri underwent surgery on a back complaint late last month that is expected to rule him out of the start of the new season.

City are on a pre-season tour of Asia and will face Atletico Madrid in Seoul on Sunday. They face Arsenal in the Community Shield the following Saturday and kick off their Premier League season at home to Bournemouth on August 23.

City have already signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m and are pursuing a deal with Lille for the teenage Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, regardless of what happens with Rodri.