Man City reject Barcelona's Rodri bid and hold talks for Bouaddi
Manchester City turn down Barcelona's opening bid for Rodri while negotiating with Lille over a potential replacement.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Manchester City reject Barcelona's £38.5m opening offer for Rodri
- City value the 30-year-old midfielder at well over £60m
- Real Madrid end talks after the player decides to accept another offer
- The club holds ongoing discussions to sign 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi
Manchester City have rejected an opening offer of £38.5m from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri. Although City remain open to selling the Spanish international, they are demanding a fee in excess of £60m. The 30-year-old is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has yet to sign a new deal, fueling intense speculation regarding his future during the summer transfer window.
It initially appeared that Real Madrid would secure his signature, but La Liga rivals Barcelona have surged ahead in the race after sources informed BBC Sport on Thursday that the club had received the player's approval to open negotiations with City. The official offer was submitted on Friday. While Barcelona sources initially indicated no guarantees of a deal, the situation has rapidly progressed. BBC sources confirmed that discussions with Real Madrid have now concluded.
Rodri missed a significant portion of the 2024-25 campaign due to a severe knee injury, alongside hamstring issues that disrupted parts of his previous season. However, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner recaptured his best form at the World Cup during the summer, guiding Spain to their second title and earning the player of the tournament accolade.
"Talks with Real have now ended after the player decided to accept another offer."
BBC Sport Sources
He is currently sidelined following back surgery last month and is scheduled to rejoin his Manchester City teammates in Manchester early next week. With the transfer window approaching its second week in August, City are keen to resolve Rodri's future swiftly to pave the way for a replacement signing.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Manchester City's urgency in resolving Rodri's future highlights his pivotal role in their squad architecture. Targeting 18-year-old Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille signals a long-term investment strategy, though Lille's reported £86m valuation presents a major hurdle in negotiations, underscoring the inflated market prices for elite young midfield prospects.
Meanwhile, talks are ongoing to secure 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, though the French club's £86m asking price continues to act as a significant sticking point in negotiations.
Source: BBC Sport
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