FC Barcelona has made contact with Manchester City and Rodri’s camp as per a potential transfer of the Spain captain according to Fabrizio Romano and The Athletic.
“Barcelona have made contact with Rodri’s camp and also with Manchester City about a possible move,” Romano tweeted on X.
“Real Madrid have been in talks with City for weeks but MCFC didn’t accept to proceed immediately as it felt more clubs were joining the race.
It’s up to the player,” he added.
Then in a separate tweet, Romano added: “The decision will be completely up to Rodri, as Real Madrid and Barcelona are both ready to pay a similar transfer fee to City.
“Rodri has been in negotiations with Real Madrid for weeks as priority, but Barcelona positioned themselves as well while Madrid deal isn’t done yet.”
Over at The Athletic, their FC Barcelona and Real Madrid correspondents Pol Ballus and Mario Cartegena explain that the Catalans are exploring a deal to sign the Manchester City midfielder.
Sources close to the negotiations say that Barça has already held talks with the player’s camp over how a potential deal would look.
FC Barcelona has approached Rodri after Madrid negotiations were described as “practically broken”
That’s what Catalan newspaper SPORT reported earlier on Thursday morning, before The Athletic and Romano made their separate reports.
The main sticking point is Real Madrid’s failure to offer something that entices both City and the player, whose contract expires at the Etihad on June 30, 2027.
Last weekend saw reports that the Mancunians see Rodri’s asking price as $86.5 million (€75 million). Madrid only wants to shell out $58 million (€50 million), however, and perhaps make up the rest in add-ons.
SPORT adds though that Rodri’s asking price has dropped to a smaller $75 million (€65 million), which is affordable for the Blaugrana.
What must be noted, though, is that there’ll be a short window to get something over the line. There’s no way that Real Madrid President Florentino Perez will tolerate losing a Galactico to his club’s sworn enemy, so expect him to come in with an improved offer in no time.
As already discussed, FC Barcelona doesn’t necessarily need another defensive midfielder as it is well-stacked in that area of the pitch. It’s Madrid that does, with a lack of quality in the center of the park since Toni Kroos and Luka Modric moved on a key factor in two trophlyess seasons while Barca picked up five out of the six domestic trophies on offer.
But this is Rodri, who would gel instantly with international teammates he’s just won the World Cup with – Pau Cubarsi, Pedri and Lamine Yamal to name a few- while giving FC Barcelona plus manager Hansi Flick even more control of the ball.