Rodri rejects Barcelona

Reports indicate that Barcelona believed they were close to finalizing a deal to sign Manchester City’s Spanish star, Rodri, during the current summer transfer window, before the situation took a sudden turn due to the player’s stance.

According to the report, Barcelona’s management, headed by Joan Laporta, had prepared an offer of approximately €70 million and had thoroughly examined all the financial details of the midfielder’s contract, taking advantage of the stalled negotiations between Real Madrid and Manchester City.

However, Rodri has decided on his preferred destination, having informed those close to him that he will only leave Manchester City to join Real Madrid, requesting that all other offers, including Barcelona’s, be disregarded to avoid becoming embroiled in a bidding war.

The report also notes that the player’s decision has altered Manchester City’s negotiating position, as the English club understands that no deal can be completed without Rodri’s consent. Rodri is under contract until the summer of 2027 and has the right to control his own future.

Barcelona were counting on their sporting project, along with the presence of Pedri and the possibility of giving Rodri a leadership role in midfield, to convince the player to move to Camp Nou. However, the Spanish international believes Real Madrid is the most suitable destination to continue his career after the Premier League.

The report confirmed that Laporta believed Manchester City’s high financial demands might give Barcelona an opportunity to snatch the deal, but the player’s desire ended the Catalan club’s hopes before entering the decisive stage of negotiations.

Despite this, Real Madrid have not yet officially finalized the deal, as they still need to reach a financial agreement with Manchester City, who are holding out for a higher fee. Reports indicate that Rodri is prepared to stay with his current team if his move to Real Madrid falls through this summer, but he is not considering a move to Barcelona.