Rodri Move: Midfielder Asks Man City for Permission to Skip Training
The Rodri move is down to days, and to one awkward request. The Manchester City midfielder has asked his club for permission to miss training while Barcelona and City settle the last of the fee, Barça Universal reported on Friday, citing SPORT. The Blaugrana hope to have the 30-year-old signed by Monday.
Rodri’s holiday ended on Thursday and he was due to report to City on Friday morning, which is why Barcelona may have to wait until next week to finish the job. The Ballon d’Or winner gave Barça his green light almost a week ago and has agreed personal terms. He would rather stay away and protect himself until the clubs are done.
Enzo Maresca has already made clear that he expects Rodri back with his squad, and if City refuse the request the midfielder will report as scheduled while the talks carry on. Relations between player, club and Barcelona are said to remain good.
What is holding the Rodri move up
The clubs are separated by around £5m on the fixed fee, with City holding out for at least £60m (€70m) plus variables and Barcelona at £55m (€64m). The agreed sale of Ferran Torres to Paris Saint-Germain, reported at close to €50m, gives the Catalans the room to move. There is precedent for the request, too: Barcelona let Ferran skip his own scheduled return while that deal was being negotiated.
Mundo Deportivo reported that Rodri flew from Madrid to Liverpool on Thursday, a short drive from Manchester. He hopes an agreement can be reached within the next few days — and that his next flight is the one to Catalonia, to start work under Hansi Flick.
