Manchester City midfielder Rodri has verbally agreed to join Barcelona, according to reports. Real Madrid had been working on a deal to sign the 30-year-old this month but have yet to reach an agreement with City over a transfer fee. Madrid's inability to agree a deal with City has allowed Barcelona to make their move, and according to Gerard Romero, Rodri has given his approval to join the Spanish champions.
Barcelona move for Rodri
Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick has already contacted Rodri about a move to Camp Nou, and the club will now begin negotiations with City. Romero, speaking on his Jijantes YouTube show on Thursday, said: 'I can exclusively announce that Rodri will be a new Barcelona player.'
'The midfielder gave Barca his final approval this morning and will become the club's newest signing in the coming hours. He rejected Real Madrid, didn't want to wait any longer, and will join Barcelona.'
Transfer fee negotiations
RMC Sport report that City are hoping to secure an €80 million (£68.5m) transfer fee for Rodri, but Barcelona will be aiming for a fee between €60m and €70m (£51.3m and £60m). The 30-year-old, who started only 17 Premier League games last season after suffering an ACL injury in September 2024, underwent minor surgery on a back injury last week and is currently on holiday in Ibiza after winning the World Cup with Spain last month. He also won the World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament's best player.
Maresca's comments
Speaking this week, City boss Enzo Maresca claimed he had not held specific discussions with City's hierarchy over Rodri's future. 'It's just about speculation at the moment,' Maresca said. 'Rodri had the surgery last Monday; everything was fine. Now, some days off and he'll be back with us when he finishes his holiday.'
'As I said, the main focus for him when the season finished was the FIFA World Cup. Now, he is enjoying some rest after that and we didn't have any conversations just focused on Rodri.'
Importance to City
When asked about the importance of keeping Rodri at City, Maresca replied: 'It's very important. I said in the first press conference that any manager in the world wants Rodri because he's a top player. It's important for me, the club and for everyone. But now, he needs his holiday – that's very important when we start to play every three days.'
Speaking in March, Rodri, who has one year left on his contract with City, admitted that he would find it difficult to turn down a move to Madrid. Asked if he would like to return to La Liga, Rodri told Spanish radio station Onda Cero: 'I'd like to return, yes, obviously. For me, La Liga is where I started. I still follow it, it's true not as much as before, but I still follow it.'
