Barcelona Table €70m Second Rodri Bid as Man City Deal Nears

Barcelona have lodged a second Rodri bid worth €65 million plus €5 million in add-ons, as Barça Universal reports, citing SPORT, with the club pushing to complete the Manchester City midfielder’s transfer within the next day or two. The World Cup-winning Spain captain has already agreed a four-year contract with the Blaugrana and turned down Real Madrid in a late change of direction to make the move happen.

The improved package is a significant jump from Barça’s opening proposal of around €50 million, which the Premier League club quickly dismissed — reports in England have suggested City wanted closer to €80 million before contemplating a sale, and caution that no agreement between the clubs is in place yet. Momentum built after talks between the clubs advanced over the weekend, and neither side wants the saga to drag on. The 30-year-old is due back at City training on 14 August and, per SPORT, would rather the deal is sealed before he has to return to Manchester for pre-season.

A Rodri bid LaLiga is already celebrating

Tellingly, Mundo Deportivo notes that LaLiga’s own website now greets visitors with a highlights reel of the midfielder’s early years at Villarreal and Atlético Madrid.

“Before he was crowned world champion with Spain, Rodri was already showing his class in LaLiga. Relive some of his best moments with Villarreal CF and Atlético de Madrid — from his command of midfield and intelligent play to the quality that made him one of the best in football,” reads the league’s tribute.

No Ballon d’Or winner has arrived in the Spanish top flight since Cristiano Ronaldo in 2009, and Rodri has not played a LaLiga match since May 2019. If City soften their demands as expected, the champions’ new midfield anchor could be confirmed within days.