Man City Rejects Barcelona's £38.5m Bid for Rodri

Manchester City has turned down an opening bid of £38.5 million from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri. The Premier League champions demand a fee exceeding £60 million for the Spain international, who is in the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has not yet agreed to a new deal.

Barcelona has emerged as the leading contender for Rodri’s signature, having received encouragement from the player’s camp to initiate negotiations. Despite the formal offer being rejected, discussions between Barcelona and Rodri’s representatives are ongoing.

Rodri, a 2024 Ballon d’Or winner, has faced injury challenges in recent seasons but regained form at the World Cup, helping Spain secure their second title and earning the tournament's best player accolade. He is currently recovering from back surgery and is expected to return to Manchester next week for rehabilitation.

City aims to resolve Rodri’s future quickly as they explore potential replacements, including 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, though the £86 million valuation poses a significant hurdle.