Barça Prepare New €70m Rodri Bid After Midfielder Agrees Personal Terms

Barcelona is set to submit a renewed offer for Rodri, valued by Manchester City at over €70 million, after the midfielder chose the Spanish champions over Real Madrid.

Barcelona is preparing a renewed transfer offer for Spain international Rodri as negotiations with Manchester City persist. The 30-year-old midfielder has already agreed to personal terms with the Spanish champions, having selected a move to Barça over rivals Real Madrid. Despite this agreement, two previous bids from the Catalan club have failed to meet Manchester City's valuation, which sources indicate is in excess of €70 million (£60m / $81m). The upcoming package from Barcelona is expected to align with that financial region.

Rodri returned to England this week following an extended break after Spain’s World Cup victory in North America last month. His arrival at the City training ground on Friday marked his first meeting with new head coach Enzo Maresca. While the two shared a hug, Maresca remained non-committal regarding the player's future during a press conference held before Sunday’s FA Community Shield match against Arsenal. The City manager noted that while the transfer window remains open, "anything can happen" regarding player acquisitions and departures.

Manchester City Midfield Restructuring

The potential exit of Rodri comes amid significant changes to the Premier League champions' roster. Bernardo Silva has already departed the club, joining Real Madrid on a free transfer. Additionally, sources have confirmed that Manchester City has agreed to a deal with Al Qadsiah for the transfer of Tijjani Reijnders. To address these vacancies, the club has already completed the signing of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for a fee of £116 million ($154m).

City continues to evaluate further reinforcements for their central unit. The club has identified Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández and Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi as primary targets. However, a move for Fernández appears unlikely to meet Chelsea's immediate demands. The London-based club has set a Friday deadline for the Argentine international, valuing him at £120 million ($161.8m), a figure Maresca indicated City is currently unlikely to match.

Barcelona’s Transfer Activity and Player Movements

While pursuing Rodri, Barcelona is also managing significant departures to fund their summer recruitment. Spain star Ferran Torres is reportedly nearing a move to Paris Saint-Germain in a deal valued at €50 million. Amidst these negotiations, Barça midfielder Frenkie de Jong has publicly addressed rumors surrounding his own status, stating that "fake news does damage" to his professional image.

Manchester City’s stance on Rodri remains cautious as they balance the need for squad depth with the player's desire to return to Spain. Maresca emphasized that the club now has time to interact further with the midfielder following his return from post-World Cup leave. The outcome of the Community Shield against Arsenal may provide further clarity on how the squad will be utilized as the transfer deadline approaches. For now, the focus remains on whether Barcelona's third attempt will satisfy the €70 million requirement set by the English side.