Manchester City Reject Barcelona’s £38.5 Million Bid for Rodri, Demand Over £60 Million

Man City reject Barcelona bid for Rodri - reports Manchester City have turned down Barcelona’s opening bid of £38.5 million ($52 million) for World Cup winner Rodri, according to reports. With only a single season remaining on his contract at the Etihad, the 30-year-old midfielder is widely tipped to return to his native Spain. - Sports - AFP - Published Date: 06:33 PM 07 August 2026 Manchester City have reportedly rejected an opening bid of £38.5 million ($52 million) from Barcelona for World Cup winner Rodri. The 30-year-old has just one season remaining on his deal at the Etihad Stadium and has been strongly linked with a return to his native Spain. City are understood to want about £68 million for Rodri, who was named player of the tournament at the recent World Cup in North America. Real Madrid had appeared likely to be Rodri's next club, but La Liga rivals Barcelona now seem to be in pole position. Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and won multiple Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League under former boss Pep Guardiola. He won Euro 2024 and that year's Ballon d'Or before a serious knee injury ruled him out of much of the 2024/25 campaign.

According to Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City have rejected FC Barcelona’s opening offer worth €45 million plus another €5 million in add-ons. Despite the opening offer being rejected, the two clubs are continuing negotiations, with the Blaugrana prepared to improve their initial offer. As far as the Cityzens are concerned, they are fully aware of Rodri’s desire to join the La Liga champions. However, as reported previously by The Athletic, they continue to value the World Cup winner at a mammoth €80 million. First offer rejected Having reached an agreement with the midfielder over personal terms, Barcelona have moved swiftly to open talks with Manchester City in order to close the deal as early as possible. 🚨🔵🔴 Direct club to club talks for Rodri continue as Barcelona are prepared to improve their bid. — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 7, 2026 €45m plus €5m add-ons opening proposal turned down this morning but FCB are still working on it. City are aware of player’s desire. 🎥➕ https://t.co/wQfDHpKtHW pic.twitter.com/kz4jA5v11U As was widely reported since morning, the opening offer, worth €45 million plus add-ons, was sent to the Premier League giants, which, as expected has been turned down by the Cityzens. During their previous negotiations with Real Madrid, City made it clear that they will not sell Rodri for a bargain price despite his contract entering its final 12 months. The ball is now in Barcelona’s court to improve their offer and push closer to the figure that Enzo Maresca’s side are demanding in order to part ways with their midfield general. Things in Barcelona’s favour What works in Barcelona’s favour is that Rodri has already given the green light to the move and a verbal agreement over a four-year contract is also in place. Moreover, Manchester City are aware that the midfielder has no intention of renewing his contract, meaning they would stand to lose him for nothing next summer if a deal is not finalised in the ongoing window. Given that they will need to sign a replacement, potentially Ayyoub Bouaddi of Lille, who is likely to command a significant fee, the Cityzens will want to move forward with negotiations for Rodri’s sale at a fast pace. With Barcelona now prepared to improve their offer, an agreement could eventually be finalised, ideally before August 13, when Rodri is scheduled to return to Manchester for training before the start of the new season.

- Published Manchester City have rejected an opening offer of £38.5m from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri. City are open to selling the Spaniard, but would demand more than £60m. The 30-year-old enters the final year of his contract at Etihad Stadium and is yet to sign a new deal, with speculation rife about his future this summer. It looked like Real Madrid would be his next destination but La Liga rivals Barcelona are now leading the race after sources told BBC Sport on Thursday that the club had the player's approval to open negotiations with City. The offer was made on Friday. Barca sources had initially told BBC Sport there were no guarantees any deal would be made but the situation now looks to be developing. The club said on Friday they are in ongoing conversations with the player's representatives and later made their opening offer. BBC sources say talks with Real have now ended. Rodri missed much of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining a serious knee injury, and parts of last season were disrupted by a hamstring issue. However, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner was back to his best at the World Cup in the summer, leading Spain to their second title and being named player of the tournament. He is currently out of action after undergoing back surgery last month and is scheduled to link back up with his City team-mates in Manchester early next week. Approaching the second week of August in the transfer window, City will be aiming to resolve Rodri's future swiftly in order to sign a replacement. Talks are ongoing to sign 18-year-old Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille, but the French club's £86m asking price appears to be a sticking point. What has Rodri's agent said? According to Spanish radio network Cadena Ser, who have spoken directly to Rodri's agent Pablo Barquero, Real Madrid made Rodri an "irresistible" offer shortly after Spain's World Cup triumph. Talks began just days after the tournament, with Rodri's camp praising the courtesy, class and respect shown by the club throughout the negotiations. According to the report, everyone at Real Madrid, from president Florentino Perez to chief executive Jose Angel Sanchez, worked to make the deal happen and made it clear they were serious about signing the midfielder. They had put everything on the table to get the deal over the line but despite positive discussions over the past two weeks, Rodri has made the personal decision to accept another offer, says the radio network. Cadena Ser add that Real Madrid were informed of Rodri's decision on Friday and chose to end the process in order to avoid prolonging uncertainty, while thanking the player for the respectful way the negotiations were conducted.

- Published Spain midfielder Rodri said it is his "dream" to play for Barcelona after he arrived in the city to complete his move from Manchester City. Barcelona have agreed to pay City about £65m, with the 30-year-old to sign a four-year contract with the La Liga champions. "I'm very happy to have arrived. The last few days have been intense, but I'm glad everything has been sorted out. Of course, playing for FC Barcelona is a dream," Rodri told journalists at the airport on Monday. "I can't wait to be with my team-mates, many of whom I already know from the national team. It's time to get to work and give my very best." Rodri added that he is aiming to win "the Champions League and everything else that comes our way" with Barca. The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner made 298 appearances across seven trophy-laden seasons at City after joining them from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then club record £62.8m. He missed much of the 2024-25 campaign after sustaining a serious knee injury, and parts of last season were disrupted by a hamstring issue. However, he was back to his best at the World Cup this summer, leading Spain to their second title and being named player of the tournament. Rodri leaves City having won 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups and the Champions League in 2022-23. Last week, City rejected Barca's opening offer of £38.5m for Rodri, who was set to enter the final year of his contract at Etihad Stadium. It had looked like Real Madrid would be his next destination but La Liga rivals Barcelona stepped up their efforts to complete the signing in recent days.

Alexander Isak's protracted £125m move to Liverpool dominated last summer's transfer window and there are signs that Manchester City's pursuit of Enzo Fernandez could follow a similar pattern. Chelsea agreed with the Argentina midfielder's agent Javier Pastore in late May that Fernandez could leave the club for £120m - but put a deadline of 14 August for any bids. Now that last Friday's deadline passed without any formal offers, the Blues have told Fernandez's camp that the player is not for sale in this transfer window. But, as last summer's Isak saga showed, it is rarely that simple. The Sweden striker finally clinched his British record transfer move to Liverpool on transfer deadline day after weeks of Newcastle United insisting he was not for sale. Twelve months on, the Fernandez uncertainty is not going away. Manchester City, managed by Fernandez's former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, are still keen to sign the 25-year-old and believe the London club still want to do a deal. City, who are also in advanced talks about a £85m deal for Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, want to bolster their midfield after Rodri agreed a move to Barcelona and Bernardo Silva left when his contract expired. They have already signed midfielder Elliot Anderson for a club-record £116m from Nottingham Forest, winger Jeremy Monga from Leicester City for £12.5m and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli from Marseille for £1.7m. If Fernandez and Bouaddi join, it means Maresca will likely to have overseen a total spend of more than £330m. A chunk of that outlay will be funded by the sales of Rodri and James Trafford as well as the likely departures of Tijjani Reijnders and Savinho. The exits of Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake have reduced the wage bill too. Reports from Spain suggest Chelsea remain privately open to selling Fernandez and that the club have appointed high-profile agent Jorge Mendes, who also represents winger Pedro Neto, to resolve the situation. Fernandez tried and failed to secure a move to Real Madrid earlier in the summer - despite the club later denying any interest - and the situation is further complicated by his relationship with Chelsea's fans. There were audible jeers when he came on in Saturday's 3-1 friendly win over Real Sociedad, although others responded with cheers. There was a similar mixed reaction every time he touched the ball. Chelsea remain confident the midfielder can be reintegrated back into the squad and made a show of intent by giving him the captain's armband when he replaced Reece James last weekend. However doubt remains over whether Fernandez will stay, and there is concern about the disruption such a late transfer would create, not least if new manager Xabi Alonso wanted to recruit a replacement. Are Chelsea leaving it late? There are echoes of last summer's Isak story, with Newcastle appearing to take a strong stance and rejecting an initial £110m offer despite widespread knowledge that he was training away from the club with his former side Real Sociedad. It continued throughout the summer and only came to a conclusion when Liverpool announced the deal two-and-a-half hours after the transfer window closed. The Magpies had already signed attacking reinforcements, bringing in Nick Woltemade from Stuttgart for a club-record fee of £69m and Yoane Wissa from Brentford for £55m. Neither signing performed as hoped though, and Newcastle endured a disappointing season. Alonso has used a 3-4-2-1 system in pre-season and it has been successful. It largely mirrors the set-up he used when guiding Bayer Leverkusen to an historic league and cup double in 2024. Moises Caicedo and James were the midfield pair at Stamford Bridge on Saturday, with Jordan Henderson sidelined by injury. Romeo Lavia came off the bench, with Valentin Barco and Dario Essugo remaining unused substitutes. Chelsea are well stocked in midfield, especially in a season without European football, and could cope in terms of numbers without signing a replacement for Fernandez if he left. In fact, they know they need to move on a significant amount of players before the window closes. However, earlier this summer they made a £64m bid for Bournemouth's Alex Scott and were reportedly offered Arsenal midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly. They have also been linked with Crystal Palace's Adam Wharton and Monaco's Lamine Camara. Bournemouth say Scott is not for sale at any price and it's also understood that Lewis-Skelly, who set up the first goal in the Community Shield win over City, is keen to remain at Arsenal. Whether Chelsea resist City's interest and fully reintegrate Fernandez to the squad or whether they sell the midfielder is likely to be one of the themes of the final two weeks of the transfer window.

MADRID (AP) — Spain's World Cup-winning captain Rodri arrived in Barcelona on Monday to seal his transfer from Manchester City, saying it's a dream to play for the Catalan club. Rodri was expected to undergo a medical on Tuesday as Barcelona and City exchanged documentation to finalize the agreement. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Barcelona agreed to a deal worth 76.5 million euros ($88.5 million), a person with knowledge of the transaction confirmed to the Associated Press on Sunday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the transfer have not been made public. “Very happy to arrive. There have been some very intense days, but I'm happy that everything has been resolved,” Rodri told reporters briefly. “For me it's a dream to play for Barcelona. I'm excited about being with my teammates, many of them I already know. Now it's time to get to work and give my best.” The 30-year-old Rodri helped Spain secure its second World Cup title last month and will join international teammates Lamine Yamal, Dani Olmo, Pau Cubarsí, Gavi and Pedri at Barceclona. Rodri won the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best player. He had one year left on his contract at City. His deal with Barcelona reportedly will go until 2030. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Real Madrid was also reportedly interested in signing Rodri, and he had loudly praised the Barcelona rival in the past. Hansi Flick's Barcelona, chasing a three-peat in La Liga, has already boosted its squad with England forward Anthony Gordon, who will help to make up for the departures of Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal in extra time in the World Cup final against Argentina. The club is also set to add defender João Cancelo in the next few days. Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019. He scored the winning goal in the Champions League final victory over Inter Milan in 2023, and won the Ballon d'Or as the world's best player the following year after being part of Spain's European Championship-winning team. Advertisement Article continues below this ad His departure further weakens City's midfield, with Bernardo Silva having left for Real Madrid this offseason. Rodri did not play on Sunday in City’s 3-0 defeat to Arsenal in the Community Shield. He is recovering from minor back surgery he underwent after the World Cup. ___ AP Sports Writers Steve Douglas and Joseph Wilson contributed to this report. Advertisement Article continues below this ad ___ See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Manchester City midfielder Rodri has arrived in Barcelona ahead of his £65.4million move to the Catalan giants. The 30-year-old said it was “a dream come true” to be heading to the Nou Camp, with the deal set to be finalised following a medical on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters at Barcelona’s El Prat airport, Rodri said: “I’m very happy to be here. It’s been an intense few days, but I’m glad everything is sorted out. “Playing for Barcelona is a dream come true for me. I’m really looking forward to being with my team-mates, most of whom I already know from the national team, so now it’s time to work hard and give my best. “We’re going for the Champions League, we’re going for everything that comes our way.” The midfielder, who lifted the World Cup with Spain this summer, had entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and was the subject of interest from both Barcelona and their arch rivals Real Madrid. Barca had seen an opening offer of £40m rejected last week and failed with an increased bid before reaching an agreement on Sunday. If all goes to plan with Rodri’s medical, his signing could be announced later the same day, with a formal presentation pencilled in for Wednesday. City had hoped to keep Rodri, with manager Enzo Maresca describing him as a “top player” and saying, “all the teams need Rodri” after the Community Shield on Sunday. However, they have been unable to persuade their linchpin to stay and sign a new contract. Rodri had only returned to City on Friday having undergone back surgery following the World Cup. The former Atletico Madrid player has spent seven seasons with City, winning the Premier League four times and scoring the only goal when they beat Inter Milan in the 2023 Champions League final. The following year he won the Ballon d’Or but by the time he was presented with the trophy he was sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament injury which ruled him out of most of the 2024-25 campaign. Further hamstring and groin problems then limited him to 33 appearances in Pep Guardiola’s final campaign in charge. City have already undergone major changes in midfield this summer, spending £116m on Elliot Anderson, while agreeing a deal to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadisah. They have also been linked with Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Sheffield United v Manchester City - Bramall Lane, Sheffield, Britain - August 27, 2023 Manchester City's Rodri celebrates scoring their second goal REUTERS/Phil Noble Audio By Vocalize "I'm very pleased to be here. The last few days have been intense, but I'm glad everything's sorted. Of course, playing for Barcelona is a dream," the midfielder told journalists waiting for him at the airport. "I can't wait to be with my team-mates, I already know many of them from the national team. It's time to get down to work and give it our all," the 30-year-old added. Rodri said his aims with Barcelona would be "the Champions League and whatever else comes our way". The 2024 Ballon d'Or winner landed in Barcelona the day after Manchester City and his future employers reached an agreement on a transfer fee of around 75 million euros ($87 million), according to the Catalan press. A source within Barcelona told AFP on Sunday that the deal would be made official "in the coming days". Rodri has struggled with injuries over the past two seasons but shone as Spain won their second World Cup in North America last month. After seven trophy-laden years at Manchester City, the former Atletico Madrid and Villarreal player was reported to be close to joining Real Madrid, before finally opting for their arch rivals. Citizen Digital wants to hear from you. Send us your stories, videos, and photos. Share your perspective with the Citizen Digital community. Moderation applies This discussion is waiting for your voice. Be the first to share your thoughts!

Rodrigo Hernández has arrived at what will be his home for the next four years. Rodri landed at the private flight terminal of El Prat Airport to significant media fanfare and a crowd of supporters waiting outside the gates. Arriving in the Catalan capital alongside his family, the midfielder spoke as soon as he stepped out of the terminal, calling his move to Barcelona “a dream.” “I’m very happy to be here and to play alongside my new teammates,” Rodri said. Asked about his goals for the upcoming campaign, he added, “The Champions League and competing for every trophy in front of us. It’s time to get to work. It’s been an intense few days, but everything got sorted out in the end.” Pending any delays in paperwork with Manchester City, Barcelona intends to make the signing official on Tuesday and introduce their new star on Wednesday during the 61st edition of the Joan Gamper Trophy against Egypt’s Al Ahly, which serves as the squad’s home presentation at Spotify Camp Nou. Rodri will undergo his standard medical examination tomorrow morning. Club sources indicated that this physical will build on the results of tests he completed over the weekend in England upon returning to City’s facility on schedule. Rodri underwent minor back surgery following the World Cup, which could delay his Barcelona debut, alongside the necessary fitness work required after returning from vacation on August 14. Barcelona reached an agreement in principle with Manchester City late Sunday afternoon. The club had already locked in personal terms with the player a week earlier with City’s permission. Manchester City allowed him to negotiate with suitors across Europe. The reigning World Cup MVP ultimately prioritized Barcelona’s proposal over Real Madrid’s, which his agent described as an “irresistible offer.” Returning to Spain was a top priority for Rodri, leading him to quickly set aside interest from Paris Saint-Germain and other European giants. In making his decision, Rodri pointed to Barcelona’s established playing style and the chance to reunite with several international teammates from the Spanish national team, including Joan García, Eric García, Pau Cubarsí, Dani Olmo, Gavi, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal. One player he won’t be joining is close friend Ferran Torres, whose $55 million (€50M) transfer to PSG helped clear the financial runway for Barcelona to complete the midfielder’s signing. With personal terms agreed upon, negotiating a transfer fee with Manchester City proved to be the final hurdle. City Football Group executives rejected two initial Barcelona bids before both sides reached common ground on Sunday afternoon. According to The Athletic, the deal is valued at €60 million ($66 million) guaranteed, plus €16.5 million ($18.2 million) in add-ons, with €11 million ($12.1 million) considered easily achievable for City. Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere. And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.

Spanish midfielder Rodri Hernández has confirmed his signing with FC Barcelona, assuring that playing for the blue-and-grenilla squad is a "dream," and that he is focused on "working" to try to fight for the Champions League and for "everything that comes his way." "I am very happy to arrive. It’s been intense days, but I’m glad everything has been resolved. Playing for Barcelona is a dream for me and, of course, I’m looking forward to being with my teammates, most of whom I know," he said to the press on his arrival at El Prat airport (Barcelona). The Madrid-born midfielder joins Can Barça after the Catalan club interrupted negotiations with Manchester City for the Spanish international, which seemed on track for the player to join Real Madrid. Rodri arrives at the City of Barcelona after being crowned world champion with Spain at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada. "Now it’s time to work and do my best. We’re going for the Champions League and for anything that comes our way," he warned. We recommend that before commenting, you read Diario de Navarra’s participation rules. Front page, Multimedia, Latest news, DN Selection, Newspaper, Back. Thank you for choosing Diario de Navarra. It seems that, in order to promote quality and independent journalism, if you want to reduce advertising impact you can subscribe to the digital edition with access to all subscribers’ exclusive advantages.

!Logo If you accept the use of "cookies" and similar technologies (including ), you can continue browsing for free, you will receive a more personalized experience, and you will be supporting the work of our editorial team. If, on the other hand, you prefer to reject the use of these technologies, you can pay for an "anti-tracking" subscription, which will allow you to browse without these tracking and personalization technologies. We and ) store, access, and process personal data, such as your visits to this webpage, IP addresses, and cookie identifiers for -among other purposes- profiling and advertising/content personalization. You can our cookie policy. Do you want to activate Utiq technology powered by mobile operators? If you give your consent and use digital marketing or analytics activities. To create these identifiers, Utiq works with your mobile operator, which uses your IP address and other data (such as your mobile phone number), but without sharing them. These identifiers help us connect navigation activity within the You can By giving your consent, you confirm that you are the owner of the internet account or you have their permission to activate Utiq on that connection. For more information, see the We and our partners carry out the following data processing: Storing information on a device and/or accessing it, Sharing non-identifying data with advertisers, agencies, and third parties, Analytical cookies to obtain anonymous statistics, Cookies to store user preferences, Technical cookies, Precise geolocation data and device-based identification, Personalized advertising and content, measurement of advertising and content, audience research and service development, Receiving ads of a political nature, Use of Utiq technology powered by mobile operators View our 1098 partners Reject and subscribeAccept Already subscribed? sign in Latest videos 08/17/2026, 7:53:27 PM 08/17/2026, 7:53:27 PM 08/17/2026, 7:42:27 PM 08/17/2026, 7:42:27 PM 08/17/2026, 6:53:50 PM 08/17/2026, 6:53:50 PM 08/17/2026, 6:43:49 PM 08/17/2026, 6:43:49 PM Close Close

Spanish midfielder and World Cup winner Rodri has been at the heart of the summer transfer window, with links to Real Madrid being established over a month ago. TalkSPORT journalists Alex Crook and Ben Jacobs have now reported that Barcelona are working to steal him away from their rivals, who have been slow to complete the deal for the 30-year-old, with talks underway. The Ballon d’Or winner is reportedly still making up his mind before the new campaign kicks off and transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed on Thursday morning that the decision is down to him entirely. “The decision will be completely up to Rodri, as Real Madrid and Barcelona both ready to pay similar transfer fee to City. “Rodri has been in negotiations with Real Madrid for weeks as priority but Barcelona positioned themselves as well while Madrid deal isn’t done yet.” Despite such rumours, City manager Enzo Maresca has remained calm about the future of his key midfielder. "We have to say that around big players there are always speculation. I'm not worried about that, it's normal," Maresca said. "They won the World Cup and he was one of the best players. Every manager wants to have Rodri, but now surgery. He needs to rest and recover, and then he will be back here with us." Rodri has spoken favourably about Real Madrid in the past, but with Barcelona pushing ahead, he has a huge choice to make as the season approaches.

An eventful transfer window at Chelsea has taken a fresh twist with reports that Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are in talks to sell their stakes to Clearlake Capital. Private equity company Clearlake owns 61.5 per cent of the club, with Boehly and Walter carving up the remaining shares with another investor, Hansjorg Wyss. Chairman Boehly has reportedly been dissatisfied with the club's recent direction, including regarding transfer strategy. The Blues have ditched their under-25 transfer policy by bringing in experienced heads like Jordan Henderson, Danny Welbeck and Maxence Lacroix, while Morgan Rogers has arrived for a club record fee. Meanwhile, the Enzo Fernandez saga drags on. The Argentina star may have moved a step closer to leaving the club after Manchester City struck a deal to sell Rodri to Barcelona. Numerous other players could be heading for the exit door, either on loan or permanently, while the Blues are still looking to add a few more signings before the end of the window. Stay tuned to football.london throughout the day for the latest transfer news and developments. Sky's Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle includes at least 215 live Premier League clashes across the 2026/27 season, with more than 1,500 games from the EFL and beyond, plus F1, golf and darts. This introductory offer saves £384 compared to the standard price, with every package also providing 100 regular channels alongside free Netflix and discovery+ subscriptions. Enzo Fernandez has been told he can't fill the void created by Rodri's move to Manchester City. City remain in the hunt for Fernandez despite the Blues holding firm on their £120m prize tag. He is seen by many as a potential replacement for the World Cup winner, but not by former Man United striker Giuseppe Rossi. He has told BetBrothers: "Rodri is one of one. There is no one else. It's impossible to replace him. "So what would Manchester City be getting instead? Enzo Fernandez is a very good player. I'd go as far as to say he is an amazing player. But he's not Rodri. "I do think Enzo would fit Manchester City's style of play. He knows Enzo Maresca from Chelsea. It would all fit together. In that respect, he would be a very good replacement for Rodri, but not to replace the player that Rodri is. That can't be done." Liam Delap, who is not part of Xabi Alonso's plans, is reportedly open to joining Newcastle before the end of the transfer window. Despite a difficult first season at Stamford Bridge, the Blues are still looking to make a profit on the former Man City forward and are said to be demanding between £40m and £50m. Everton and Man United are also said to be interested. Xabi Alonso has raised eyebrows for all the right reasons ahead of the new Premier League season. The new Blues manager has taken to life at Stamford Bridge like a duck to water, delivering a fresh and exciting brand of football that has the potential to blossom into something special. Fortunately for Alonso, he will have more time than most on the training pitch this term, allowing him to stamp his mark on the side, writes Bobby Vincent. When the Spaniard put pen to paper on a long-term contract with Chelsea earlier this summer, he outlined his ambition to 'build the right culture and win trophies'. Chelsea are set to go head-to-head with Manchester United for Roma's Manu Kone, according to reports in Italy. Atletico Madrid have already seen a bid of £37m rebuffed by the Rome club, who are holding out for more than £40m. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Roma are still considering cashing in before the end of the window. United have been linked with Kone throughout but now Chelsea are said to have declared an interest in the 25-year-old. Paul Scholes has urged Chelsea to replace Robert Sanchez with Aston Villa's Emi Martinez. The Manchester United legend reckons the goalkeeper position is a "problem" for the Blues. Martinez has just seen a potential move to Juventus fall through. Scholes said on The Good, The Bad and the Football podcast: "If I was them, I would have a look at the Aston Villa goalkeeper because his move to Juventus has just fallen through. I think he would be a good signing for Chelsea." Chelsea would demand more than £120m if Manchester City try to sign him in the final fortnight of the transfer window, reports The Telegraph. City missed the Blues' Friday 5pm deadline to meet that valuation but remain interested in the Argentina international. However, Chelsea have no intention of lowering their price. In fact, they are ready to raise it. Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are reportedly in talks to sell their stakes in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital. Boehly is said to have three main gripes about the direction of the club: - Recruitment strategy - Head coaches - New stadium plan The Blues have reportedly increased their valuation for winger Pedro Neto to £100m. While Chelsea are not actively looking to sell, they would part with the Portugal star for the right price. The Blues have revised their initial valuation - thought to be about £70m - after seeing Yan Diomande join Real Madrid for £120m Manchester City, Arsenal, Spurs and Saudi side Al Hilal have all been credited with an interest. Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott remains of interest to Chelsea in the final two weeks of the summer transfer window but he is only likely to be pursued if Enzo Fernandez departs Stamford Bridge. The Blues saw a £64million offer batted away by the Cherries for Scott last month with sources insisting the highly sought-after midfielder is not for sale this summer. Bournemouth insiders actually refused to put a valuation on the 22-year-old due to their no-nonsense stance. A typically newsy day lies ahead at Chelsea. Stay with us for the latest transfer news and rumours.

‘Dream come true’: WC hero opens up on $125m stunner; Arsenal raid looms – Transfers Spain’s World Cup-winning captain and Golden Ball receipient says his blockbuster move home to a Spanish powerhouse is a “dream come true”. The transfer window continues to heat up, with one of Europe’s biggest clubs making a major statement while another stunning Premier League raid could be on the cards. Catch up on all the latest moves and whispers in Football Transfers. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. ‘DREAM COME TRUE’: WC HERO OPENS UP ON BLOCKBUSTER $125M MOVE Spanish captain and World Cup hero Rodri has opened up on his blockbuster move from Manchester City to Barcelona, describing the switch as a “dream come true”. Barca have agreed to a £65.4 million ($A125m) deal with Manchester City to sign the Golden Ball recipient and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner in one of the biggest moves of the summer window. According to the BBC, City had been hoping to convince the 30-year-old to sign a new contract, but Rodri made it clear he wanted to return to Spain this summer despite still having one year remaining on his deal. Speaking to local media after arriving in Barcelona to complete a medical with his new club, Rodri opened up on the shock move, saying the last few days have been “intense”. “I’m very happy to be here,” he said. “It’s been an intense few days, but I’m glad everything is sorted out. “Playing for Barcelona is a dream come true for me. I’m really looking forward to being with my teammates, most of whom I already know from the national team, so now it’s time to work hard and give my best.” Rodri said there was no limit to what Barca can achieve with him leading the way in midfield. “We’re going for the Champions League,” he said. “We’re going for everything that comes our way.” The agreement brings Rodri’s hugely successful seven-year stint at the Etihad to the brink of an end after joining City from Atletico Madrid in 2019. Barcelona reportedly had two previous bids rejected before finally meeting City’s valuation, with Rodri now set to head back to La Liga. The move comes just weeks after Rodri captained Spain to its second World Cup title, completing a remarkable return to the international stage following two injury-hit seasons. Rodri has been one of the defining figures of City’s most successful era, winning 12 major trophies during his seven seasons in Manchester, including four Premier League titles. His most famous contribution came in 2023 when he scored the only goal in City’s Champions League final victory over Inter Milan, sealing the club’s historic treble and its first European crown. Rodri was later crowned the world’s best player when he won the Ballon d’Or in 2024. The midfielder will now return to Spanish football for the first time since leaving Atletico Madrid seven years ago, with Barcelona landing one of the most decorated and influential midfielders of the modern era. BARCA PLOT SHOCK RAID FOR PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPION Barcelona are reportedly exploring a shock move for Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres as the Spanish champions look to replace the departed Ferran Torres. According to Spanish journalist José Álvarez, developments are expected around Gyökeres in the coming hours, with Barcelona considering the Swedish international as an alternative following Torres’ €50 million move to Paris Saint-Germain. Barcelona’s need for attacking reinforcements has increased following the departure of Torres, who scored 21 goals across all competitions last season before sealing his switch to the French giants. And Gyökeres would certainly represent a blockbuster replacement. The 28-year-old only joined Arsenal from Sporting CP last summer in a deal reportedly worth an initial £55 million ($A105m), with a further £8.7m potentially due in add-ons. His arrival in north London followed an extraordinary two-year spell in Portugal, where Gyökeres scored a staggering 97 goals in 102 appearances for Sporting. Gyökeres also helped Sporting win back-to-back Liga Portugal titles in 2023-24 and 2024-25 before continuing his remarkable run of team success in England. His first season in the Premier League proved more challenging, but the Swede still finished with 21 goals across all competitions and helped Arsenal claim the 2025-26 Premier League crown. It means Gyökeres has now been part of a league-winning side in three consecutive seasons across two different countries and will enter 2026-27 with the opportunity to make it four straight. Gyökeres also found some of his best individual form after the turn of the year, emerging as one of the Premier League’s most in-form forwards during the second half of the campaign. Barcelona are now reportedly prepared to explore whether a deal for the Arsenal striker could be possible as they reshape their attack following Torres’ departure. However, there is no suggestion at this stage that an agreement has been reached with Arsenal, with Gyökeres contracted to the Premier League champions until 2030. WORLD CUP HERO CALLS TIME ON BARCA CAREER IN $90M EURO GIANT SWITCH Just weeks after becoming Spain’s World Cup hero, Ferran Torres has called time on a successful four-and-a-half-year stint at Barcelona to complete a blockbuster move to Paris Saint-Germain. PSG confirmed the arrival of the 26-year-old on a deal running until 2031, with the French giants reportedly paying €50 million ($AUD81m) to prise the versatile forward away from the Spanish champions. It brings an end to a Barcelona career which began when Torres arrived from Manchester City in December 2021 and saw the Spaniard develop into a key attacking weapon at the Catalan giants. And he departs with his stocks arguably never higher. Torres produced his best season in a Barcelona shirt in 2025-26, scoring 21 goals and adding three assists from 49 appearances across all competitions as Hansi Flick’s side retained the La Liga title. Sixteen of those goals came in La Liga, with Torres sharing the Zarra Trophy with teammate Lamine Yamal as the competition’s leading Spanish goalscorer. Torres etched his name into Spanish football history at last month’s World Cup, coming off the bench to score the 106th-minute winner as Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final. The goal secured Spain its second World Cup crown and capped a remarkable few months for Torres before his move to Paris. He now leaves Barcelona having made 207 appearances for the club, scoring 65 goals and providing seven assists. Torres also collected seven major trophies during his time in Catalonia, including three La Liga titles, one Copa del Rey and three Spanish Super Cups. His move to Paris will also reunite him with PSG boss Luis Enrique, who previously coached Torres with the Spanish national team. “I’m delighted to be beginning a new adventure at such an ambitious club as Paris St Germain,” Torres said after completing the switch. “I’d like to thank President Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Luis Campos and coach Luis Enrique for giving me the opportunity to join the team, which I hope to help win as many trophies as possible.” Luis Enrique welcomed the addition after a summer which has already seen Portuguese striker Goncalo Ramos depart PSG for AC Milan. “I am happy, of course, I think we are improving our team,” Luis Enrique said. “It has been a transfer window with players leaving, and right now it is important to find this type of player and we want to continue improving. “We are always open to improving the team. That is our ambition.” Torres joins PSG having arguably produced the best football of his career over the past 12 months, while his departure leaves Barcelona without a player who had become an increasingly reliable source of goals. CANCELO SET FOR PERMANENT BARCA RETURN AFTER SAUDI EXIT João Cancelo is reportedly set to return to Barcelona for a third time after reaching an agreement to terminate his contract with Saudi giants Al-Hilal. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, the 32-year-old has been given permission to travel to Spain early this week to finalise the move, having already agreed personal terms with Barcelona in June. Cancelo had one year remaining on his Al-Hilal deal, but his early exit will clear the way for the Portuguese international to join the Spanish champions as a free agent. And after two previous loan spells in Catalonia, this will remarkably be the first time Cancelo has joined Barcelona on a permanent basis. He first spent the 2023-24 season on loan at Barça from Manchester City before completing a €25 million move to Al-Hilal in August 2024. However, Cancelo returned to Barcelona on loan in January this year and helped Hansi Flick’s side claim a second consecutive La Liga title. That triumph also saw Cancelo make a slice of European football history. The defender became the first player to win four of Europe’s traditional top-five leagues, having previously lifted Serie A with Juventus, the Premier League with Manchester City and the Bundesliga during his loan spell at Bayern Munich. Ligue 1 remains the only one missing from his collection. Cancelo made 23 appearances and contributed two goals and three assists during his second Barcelona stint last season, with the club keen to retain him beyond the end of the loan. PREMIER LEAGUE ICON COULD MAKE SHOCK BRAZIL SWITCH Premier League great Jamie Vardy could be set for another unexpected chapter in his remarkable career after receiving an approach from Brazilian giants São Paulo. According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, São Paulo have made a move to sign the 39-year-old as a free agent, although Vardy is assessing several options and is yet to make a final decision on his future. Vardy is searching for his next club after spending last season in Italy with Cremonese, where he scored seven goals in 29 appearances but was unable to prevent the club from being relegated from Serie A. It followed the end of his legendary 13-year spell with Leicester City in 2025, where he scored exactly 200 goals in 500 appearances and established himself as one of the greatest players in the club’s history. Vardy was at the heart of Leicester’s extraordinary 2015-16 Premier League triumph, scoring 24 league goals as the 5000-1 outsiders completed one of the greatest title wins in sporting history. He later won the Premier League Golden Boot in 2019-20 and lifted the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021. Despite approaching his 40th birthday, Vardy appears determined to continue playing and São Paulo now presents another fascinating option after his season in Italy. However, a move to Brazil is far from his only option. West Ham have reportedly been monitoring Vardy as they consider adding another striker, while Sheffield Wednesday chairman David Storch has publicly revealed his desire to bring the veteran back to his boyhood club. Vardy was part of Wednesday’s academy before being released as a teenager, eventually beginning a remarkable journey through non-league football with Stocksbridge Park Steels before spells with Halifax Town and Fleetwood Town led to his move to Leicester.

Spanishman Rodri has moved closer to finalizing his transfer to Barça, after the Catalan club sealed, on Sunday, its agreement with Manchester City regarding the operation, one of the main summer transfer market deals. The only remaining steps are to undergo the medical examination and sign the contracts ahead of the official announcement of his arrival. According to journalist Achraf Ben Ayad, close to FC Barcelona, Rodri’s medical check-up will take place tomorrow morning in Barcelona, after the initial plan was to carry it out in Manchester, before the Catalan club managed to charter a plane for the player today, thereby changing the transfer schedule and moving the final step to Spain. This development follows Barça and Manchester City reaching a principle agreement regarding the transfer of the Spanish midfielder, after negotiations during which the Catalan club presented three offers, before the English club accepted the last proposal. Reports indicate the deal is worth around 76 million euros (60 million fixed plus 16 million in bonuses), with a four-season contract. The medical examination is the final step before the official completion of the transfer, with Rodri to undergo the necessary tests upon his arrival in Barcelona, before finalizing the signing formalities and announcing his transfer to the Catalan club. Rodri’s arrival, crowned Ballon d’Or winner in 2024, represents a major reinforcement for Barça’s midfield, after seven seasons with Manchester City during which he won four Premier League titles, the Champions League, and numerous other major trophies.

For PSG: Jackpot! Europe’s champions will be rubbing their hands after finding someone willing to pay them such a ridiculous sum for a substitute player who didn’t start a single Champions League match last season. Ramos, it’s worth remembering, was meant to be the solution to PSG’s problem with a first-choice striker, but he spent the vast majority of his time at Parc des Princes sitting on the bench, as Luis Enrique found a better solution by converting Ousmane Dembélé into a 'false nine,' something that doesn’t exactly reflect well on the Portuguese forward. And it doesn’t help that he’s still behind a 41-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo at the international level. With that in mind, the world’s best teams weren’t exactly queueing up to sign Ramos this summer, and certainly not for a ridiculous €75 million. With one sensational move, PSG has, at least, raised more than half the money it will need to sign Yan Diomande, a player who will actually improve their attack. Note: A+ For Milan: Incredible, simply incredible. Let’s be clear about one thing immediately: Ramos is a good striker. He showed great potential at Benfica and demonstrated at PSG that he can have an impact coming off the bench by scoring 45 goals in three seasons. However, his price makes no sense, especially for a Milan that isn’t exactly flush with money. Consequently, right now fans, pundits, and journalists in Italy are rushing to figure out exactly what happened here. Although this transfer could well mean that Rafael Leao will soon leave San Siro, the involvement of Jorge Mendes has inevitably sparked a considerable number of conspiracy theories, and it has also been noted that Milan’s owner, Gerry Cardinale, maintains a good relationship with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi. However, no one knows for sure why Milan felt compelled to pay a record fee in the club for Ramos. Again, to be clear, we do believe he’ll score in Serie A, especially because he should provide everything Ruben Amorim wants from his ‘9’. But this is the most expensive signing in Italy since Inter signed Romelu Lukaku, and Ramos does not actually offer anywhere near the same goal-scoring guarantee. Note: D+ For Ramos: A long-awaited opportunity for the eternal substitute to become a protagonist. We thought that when Ramos signed a hat-trick with Fernando Santos’ Portugal at the 2022 World Cup, a star had been born. Yet rather than building Portugal’s attack around a center forward with real potential, Santos’ successor, Roberto Martínez, chose to keep Ronaldo, thereby stalling Ramos for years. That said, he has not done a particularly good job of truly pressuring Ronaldo and Martínez either. It’s been a similar story in Paris, where the general consensus is that, although PSG boasted an enviable collection of phenomenal forwards, Ramos was not one of them. He was simply a good resource to bring off the bench, a decent impact sub. And more importantly, he now has the chance to change that narrative. Ramos is going to be the spearhead of a new Milan, which remains one of the world’s biggest clubs. The pressure on him to justify his price will be enormous, because, although it’s already a significant figure, it is completely gigantic for a Serie A club. Your turn, Goncalo, the moment has arrived to prove what you’re worth... Note: A Mark Doyle

Man City reject Barcelona bid for Rodri—reports LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP)—Manchester City have reportedly rejected an opening bid of £38.5 million ($52 million) from Barcelona for World Cup winner Rodri. The 30-year-old has just one season remaining on his deal at the Etihad Stadium and has been strongly linked with a return to his native Spain. City are understood to want about £68 million for Rodri, who was named player of the tournament at the recent World Cup in North America. Real Madrid had appeared likely to be Rodri’s next club, but La Liga rivals Barcelona now seem to be in pole position. Rodri joined City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and won multiple Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League under former boss Pep Guardiola. He won Euro 2024 and that year’s Ballon d’Or before a serious knee injury ruled him out of much of the 2024/25 campaign.

With a slight delay beyond the scheduled time, after eight in the evening, Rodri has landed at El Prat airport amid great media anticipation. The player, unlike on other occasions and as already happened this morning with Cancelo, had no trouble posing for the photographers and giving a few brief statements before heading to a city hotel to dine with Barça officials prior to being presented as the new blue-and-granate player in the coming hours. His initial message has been decisive: "These have been very intense days but I am very happy, playing for Barça is a dream and I can’t wait to meet my teammates, many of whom I already know a bit, and to get to work. The Champions League? I come to win everything that lies ahead." Rodri, who traveled by private jet from Manchester, will be presented during tomorrow’s day (the club’s plan is from 1:00 PM) at a closed event held in a shopping area near the Spotify Camp Nou. After weighing up opening the stadium doors, the club’s idea was ruled out due to the difficulty of doing so with the field’s comprehensive remodeling works. The player will undergo a medical examination first thing in the morning and then will sign the new contract theoretically in the company of President Joan Laporta. According to what has been revealed in the last hours, Rodri will wear the number 16 for Barça, the number he has cherished throughout his career, with Fermín taking over the 7 previously belonging to Ferran Torres. The arrival of the 30-year-old player has generated great excitement among Barcelona fans due to the player’s clout in modern football: Ballon d’Or winner in 2024 and best player of the World Cup Spain has just won with him serving as captain. Rodri will participate on Wednesday in the Gamper party in his first contact with the azulgrana fans. The match against Egyptian Al-Ahly will start at eight in the evening but from seven the entire squad will be introduced, and it will be there where Rodri can greet from the Camp Nou pitch pending the first trainings with his new teammates starting Thursday.

Rodri's transfer to FC Barcelona now seems virtually complete. After several days of speculation and a possible rapprochement with Real Madrid, the Spanish midfielder would finally have chosen to join the Blaugranas. The player arrived in Catalonia on Monday evening and was welcomed by numerous journalists at the airport. In front of the media, the former Manchester City player did not hide his satisfaction and expressed his enthusiasm at the idea of starting this new adventure. … Rodri in Barcelona. Are you going to fulfill a dream? Of course. For the Champions and for everything. The summer's signing arrives at Barça. The Ballon d’Or 2024 should join Barca for a transfer fee estimated at around 60 million euros. With the various bonuses planned in the operation, the total amount could reach 76.5 million euros. Rodri arrives with big ambitions. The Spanish midfielder aims to quickly contribute to the Catalan club's objectives and especially target a Champions League victory. His experience and status should represent a major reinforcement for the Barcelona team. The official confirmation of his arrival should no longer be delayed. After a particularly lively saga, Rodri seems finally ready to begin his new chapter in FC Barcelona colors. A football journalist, Paul dedicates his activity to in-depth analysis of French football and the dynamics of international football. His experience relies on daily monitoring of the French leagues, from Ligue 1 to national divisions, complemented by a rigorous study of European and global competitions. On a daily basis, he observes playing systems, dissects match tactics, and analyzes performance data to identify trends in high-level football. His work involves cross-referencing the realities on the field with the recruitment strategies of clubs on a global scale. He follows closely the evolution of tactical patterns and the development of young talents across all continents. Specialist in football news and technical challenges, Paul puts this dual experience to the service of this site to deliver factual reports and in-depth analyses. His approach provides readers with a precise understanding of power dynamics in the present, essential for optimizing predictions and following contemporary football.

Captured on video as he exited Barcelona airport, Rodri told reporters: “I'm fulfilling a dream. “Let's go and win the Champions League and everything else.” The midfielder won the Golden Ball at this year’s World Cup as well, with Spain emerging victorious in the final, beating Argentina 1-0 thanks to an extra time strike from Ferran Torres off the bench. Now, he leaves the Etihad Stadium after seven years, where he won four Premier League titles, scored the winner in Man City’s maiden Champions League triumph in 2023, and he was part of the treble-winning side that same year. He also won two FA Cups and three League Cups in his time in the north west. City have been active in trying to strengthen their engine room this summer, smashing the British transfer record to bring in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest after the midfielder’s star showings at the World Cup with England. Enzo Maresca’s side are also locked in talks with Lille over a move to sign the 18-year-old starlet Ayyoub Bouaddi, who wowed fans and scouts alike this summer with his performances for Morocco in the United States, Mexico and Canada. They also hold interest in Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, but they missed the deadline that the Blues had set for bids to be submitted by. Chelsea insisted that any bids for Fernandez needed to match their £120m asking price, with payment structures communicated to interested parties. The west Londoners wanted all bids to be lodged by 5pm BST last Friday, but none came, and the deadline passed.

Once an initial agreement in principle between Barcelona and Manchester City for Rodrigo Hernández (30 years old) has been made official, there are two clubs rubbing their hands because they are going to grab a nice slice from the Madrid-born player’s transfer to the blue-and-granate team. They do so through FIFA's solidarity mechanism. This is a FIFA tool that applies to all clubs where a player has been part of from ages 12 to 23. The total percentage amounts to 5% of the operation. Between ages 12 and 15, the percentage extends by 0.25% for each year, while from 16 to 23 this percentage rises to 0.50%. Rodri began his career at Rayo Majadahonda, but the club does not receive money because he left at barely 11 years old. However, the same does not happen with Atlético de Madrid and the yellow submarine (Villarreal). He joined Atlético de Madrid at 11 and stayed there until he was 17. If we start from 65 million euros fixed and another 10 in variables that could close the operation, the red-and-white club will secure at least one and a half million euros just from the fixed amount. On one hand, 650,000 euros for the four seasons when he was under 15, and then 975,000 euros for the three years he was above that age. If the English club were to collect the 75 million (with those ten in variables), the amount would rise to two million. About 750,000 when he wasn’t fifteen yet and 1,125,000 euros when he had already passed this age. And then there is Villarreal’s amount, where he spent five seasons, three of them in the first team. Just for the 65 million fixed of the Madrid player’s operation they will secure 1,625,000 euros. If it reaches the total of 75, the amount rises to 1,875,000 euros. It is clear that Rodri’s return to La Liga brings very good news to two Spanish teams.

Rodri may have played his last game for Manchester City as the best midfielder in the world looks primed for a move back to Spain, where he’s reportedly chosen Barcelona as a preferred option over Real Madrid. REPORT — Vini Jr to sign new Real Madrid deal The Ballon d’Or and World Cup Golden Ball winner had long been linked with a move to Real as he entered the final year of his Man City deal with the Premier League side unable to tie him to a new deal. Reports say City still want to sign him to a new deal but won’t stand in his way if he asks to leave the team for a reasonable package. Rodri, 30, has agreed personal terms with Barca, according to Fabrizio Romano, and multiple reports say that he rejected a massive package from Real. MORE — Guimaraes to Arsenal | Salah to Trabzonspor He moved to Man City in 2019 and made 298 appearances with 28 goals, winning four Premier League titles, a Champions League, a Club World Cup, and seven other trophies. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 after Spain’s EURO title, and has also helped La Roja to a Nations League and this summer’s World Cup. He took some time to return to top form following knee surgery and is currently recovering from minor back surgery. What would Rodri’s move to Barcelona mean for Real, Barca, Man City? The 70-times capped Rodri was in Atletico Madrid’s academy before moving to Villarreal in 2015, where he’d break into the first team before returning to Atleti between 2018-19. The Madrid-born Rodri made waves last Spring when he said playing for Atleti wouldn’t preclude from signing for Real as “one of the best clubs in the world,” but something seemed a bit off about that — not that Barca and Atleti aren’t heated rivals as well. This would be a huge boon for Barca, who already have a loaded midfield including Frenkie de Jong and World Cup-winning trio Pedri, Dani Olmo, and Gavi amongst others. For Real, it’s a public hit — Florentino Perez loved the idea of bringing in a Spanish winner of the Ballon d’Or who had led Spain to multiple trophies. Aurelien Tchouameni, Fede Valverde, Jude Bellingham, and Eduardo Camavinga key a midfield that’s just added Bernardo Silva, and a Rodri addition would amp up El Clasico even further. Man City would get some money for Rodri, which is nice, but Enzo Maresca would have some serious work to do to fix his team. Elliot Anderson has joined to revolutionize the set-up but Gianluca DiMarzio says Maresca’s dream signing is Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez. The 25-year-old won’t come cheap but would help Maresca fast-forward City’s on-field adjustment to his system given their shared time at Chelsea. Arsenal’s Champions League hopes would take a hit but Rodri’s exit along with Bruno Guimaraes’ move to North London would make them clear favorites to repeat as Premier League winners. The Champions League, however, would become a bigger ask as Barca would loom as one of the clear favorites.

This Sunday, August 16, a source close to FC Barcelona announced to AFP that Rodri would indeed sign with the Catalan club. The Blaugrana and Manchester City would have reached an agreement for a transfer worth 75 million euros. After several days of negotiations, FC Barcelona and Manchester City found an agreement on Sunday evening for the transfer of Spanish world champion Rodri, confirmed to AFP by a source within the Catalan club. The 30-year-old midfielder, Ballon d’Or winner in 2024, will join Barça for the next four seasons for about 75 million euros, bonuses included, according to Catalan press. A statement will be published in the coming days and the transfer will be official, a source within the Blaugrana club told AFP, without specifying the operation’s details. The captain of the Spanish national team, who was named best player at the 2026 World Cup won with La Roja, was nonetheless reported to be close to joining Real Madrid just a few days ago, but was apparently convinced by a phone call with Barcelona coach Hansi Flick. After seven seasons in England, the defensive midfielder, who has played for Atlético Madrid and Villarreal, is thus leaving Manchester City, where he became one of the world’s best players under Pep Guardiola, before winning the Ballon d’Or in 2024. Rodri, whose full name is Rodrigo Hernandez, has won almost everything with the Cityzens, including a Champions League title in 2023 and four English league titles. Also read: PSG Transfer. Belgian winger Mika Godts has officially signed with Paris Saint-Germain. The 30-year-old Spanish player, back at the highest level this summer during the North American World Cup after several successive knee injuries, had undergone a slight back operation at the end of July, leaving doubts about his physical condition at the start of the season. According to a study, global warming would pose a worse threat than expected to the elderly. Paramount is seeking a $1.9 billion guarantee from states opposing its takeover of Warner. Ongoing search operations to locate the occupants of a drifting boat off the Île d’Yeu. PSG Market: While waiting for Bradley Barcola, Liverpool would have reached an agreement with Ibrahim Mbaye. Three people brought before an investigative judge after a deadly brawl in Compiègne. PSG Market: While waiting for Bradley Barcola, Liverpool would have reached an agreement with Ibrahim Mbaye. Market: Strasbourg sells Enciso and Ouattara to Ipswich Town for 50 million euros and signs a Real Madrid prospect. Market: PAOK supporters try to derail the departure of one of their players. Market: Agreement reached between FC Barcelona and Manchester City for Rodri. Market: Stade Brestois. “Grégoire will join another club”: Julien Lachuer announces Coudert’s departure. Best sports betting sites in France in July 2026. Best sports betting apps in France in July 2026. Best sports betting bonuses in France in July 2026. Djamal Mohamed (Cannes): “In the medium term, the goal is to move up!” In the face of climate disruption, the District of Vienne asks the FFF. Kevin Mayi: “It was the Chamois or nothing!” Stade Brestois Market. “Grégoire will join another club”: Julien Lachuer announces Coudert’s departure. Angers SCO. Two weeks before the end of the transfer window, Stéphane Gilli has “good hope to keep everyone.” PSG. The unique relationship between Luis Enrique and Ferran Torres. Market. Laval Stadium: Aymeric Faurand-Tournaire close to signing in Vietnam, Laval seeking a midfielder? PSG VIDEO: “We must be ambitious”: after the arrival of Ferran Torres, Luis Enrique open to new recruits.

Captain Rodri of world champion Spain, spoke about his “dream” of playing for FC Barcelona as he arrived Monday evening in the Catalan capital, where he is set to sign his contract from Manchester City soon. “I’m very happy to have arrived. The last few days were intense, but I’m glad everything is settled,” said the 2026 world champion at the airport. “Of course playing for FC Barcelona is a dream.” Rodri aims for “the Champions League and whatever else comes our way.” After an intense transfer saga that had him linked to Real Madrid before finally landing at Barça, Rodri is expected to begin training soon. “I can’t wait to be with my teammates, many of whom I already know thanks to the national team,” Rodri continued in his first remarks in Barcelona. “It’s time to get to work and give my best.” With Barça, Rodri aims for “the Champions League and whatever else comes our way,” he added before slipping away. Rodri’s transfer to Barça to be officially announced soon. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner landed in Barcelona a day after an agreement was reached between Manchester City and his future employer for a transfer around 75 million euros, bonuses included, according to Catalan press. A source within the Blaugrana club said on Sunday to AFP that the official announcement would occur “in the coming days.” If everything is wrapped up (or almost), Rodri’s transfer has not yet been officialized but there is no longer any doubt. The resolution of the 30-year-old Spaniard’s case, named best player of the 2026 World Cup with Spain that he led to the title, was one of the most anticipated stories of this mercato. After seven years at Manchester City, the former Atlético Madrid and Villarreal player was reported close to Real Madrid before ultimately choosing his Catalan rival.

Rodri is already in Barcelona: "It’s a dream, onto the Champions League and onto everything" Rodri is already in Barcelona, close to finalizing his transfer to FC Barcelona after a few intense days. The World Champion has said that playing for the blue-and-red club is a "dream" and that he is focused on "working" to achieve all the club’s objectives: "the Champions League and everything that lies ahead." "Happy that everything has been resolved" The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner landed at El Prat (Barcelona) a day after Manchester City and Barça reached a verbal agreement for the player’s transfer. Rodri’s first words were clear: "I am very happy to arrive. It has been intense days, but I’m happy that everything has been resolved. Playing for Barcelona for me is a dream, and of course I’m eager to be with my teammates, most of whom I know," he told the press on arrival. The Madrid-born midfielder arrives at Can Barça after the Catalan club’s entry into negotiations with Manchester City for the Spanish international, which had seemed on track for the player to join Real Madrid. Rodri arrives in the City of Light after being crowned world champion with Spain at the World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. "Now it’s time to work and give my best. We’re going for the Champions League and for everything that lies ahead," he warned.

Rodri transfer news: Man City reject initial Barcelona off for Spain midfielder with bid considered far too low Manchester City have rejected an initial offer from Barcelona for Rodri; the bid is considered far too low for the Spain midfielder; Sky in Italy have reported that Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez would be City boss Enzo Maresca's "dream" signing Friday 7 August 2026 15:36, UK Manchester City have knocked back an initial offer from Barcelona for Rodri that is considered far too low. Barcelona's initial offer - which Manchester City rejected - was worth in the region of £40m. City are seeking upwards of £60m for the 30-year-old midfielder, who has entered the final year of his deal. Talks over a deal have therefore halted for now. Barcelona are not giving up on Rodri by any means. Plans are in motion for another offer to go in at some point in coming days. - Transfer Centre LIVE! | Man City news & transfers🔵 - Man City fixtures & scores | FREE Man City highlights▶️ - Got Sky? Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone📱 - Not got Sky? Latest Sky Sports deals or stream PL games with no contract📺 Sources in Spain believe Rodri would prefer a move to Barcelona over Real Madrid. City do not want to sell Spain's World Cup-winning captain and instead want to agree a new contract with him. If Rodri asks to leave, however, then they would not stand in his way. Chelsea's Fernandez would be 'dream' signing for Maresca As Manchester City assess their options for a replacement, Sky in Italy reports that Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández is manager Enzo Maresca's "dream" signing. Sky Sports News reported earlier this summer that Fernandez was not a player City were considering signing, as their priority at the time was to retain Rodri. The fluidity of the situation, therefore, means it remains to be seen whether circumstances change with regards to Fernandez, as City may look to bring in two players if Rodri joins Barcelona. Fernandez is due back at Chelsea training next week after reaching the World Cup final with Argentina. Question marks remain over his future with the Blues despite the fact he has a contract until 2032. Chelsea value Fernandez at £120m. The midfielder was left out of the squad for two games in April after admitting he would like to live in Madrid. The midfielder and his agent later apologised for the comments. They are also seeking improved terms at Chelsea. Real Madrid released a statement last month denying any interest in signing Fernandez, while the Argentine enjoyed a strong working relationship with Maresca during the Italian's time at Chelsea. Carra: Don't sell Rodri for £40-50m! Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher: "£40-50m? If you're Manchester City, what's the point in selling them? You might as well just keep them for the extra year. "He's as good as anybody in that position in the Premier League, probably the best. Seeing what he was like in the World Cup, it was like he was back to his best. "I thought the second half of the season him and Bernardo Silva were fantastic and almost took Manchester City to the title. "So, if I was the manager of Manchester City, I'd be keeping Rodri at that price. It'd have to be something really special to want me to lose arguably the best midfield player in world football. "I think it'd be really tough for them to win the Premier League without Rodri, even though they've got a lot of midfielders. He's the best, even though they've brought Elliot Anderson, who is one who I'm sure will learn off Rodri. "And for me, I'd see those two as a pair. I see Elliot Anderson as almost the replacement for Bernardo Silva, who's gone to Real Madrid. So, I think that'd be a big hole. It'd be really difficult to fill. "When Liverpool won the title under Arne Slot, Rodri got an injury in that season very early on, which helped Liverpool and was to the detriment of Manchester City. So if I was Manchester City, I'd be keeping him and letting him go on a free. "City paid £60m for him. If they're getting £40m back now, what can they do with that type of money? Not a lot, really. So, I'd rather keep him." Sky Sports' Laura Hunter: Massive. Despite his age, and recent injury record, Rodri remains the most complete central midfielder to have operated in the Premier League over the past five years. "The best midfielder in the world by far," maintains Pep Guardiola. Under Guardiola, City's in-play strategy revolved entirely around him, always impressing with his use of the ball and ability to receive in tight situations. He set the tempo for his team and controlled games as a result, doing the same for triumphant Spain this summer. There is no current player who can condition a game like Rodri, and it is no coincidence City failed to retain their Premier League crown in the two seasons he was injury-plagued. So, how is he replaced? In short, he isn't. But in Anderson City have got a surrogate of sorts. The England international might not yet be the dictator Rodri is but he can evolve to become something close. As a box-to-box midfielder, the 23-year-old is putting up numbers that at least mean he is comparable.

Skip to content Rodri arrives in Barcelona ahead of 'dream' move following Manchester City departure Monday 17 August 2026 22:38, UK Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Mute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded: 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind liveLIVE Remaining Time -0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off, selected Captions captions and subtitles off, selected Audio Track Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text ColorWhite Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Background ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyOpaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window ColorBlack White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta CyanTransparencyTransparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default valuesDone Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Rodri touches down in Barcelona ahead of finalising his £65.4m move from Manchester City, calling the transfer a 'dream come true'. Watch Next !Highlights of Arthur Fery against Alex de Minaur from the Cincinnati Open. Fery just falls short in brilliant battle with De Minaur !Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are open to selling their stakes in Chelsea to majority owner Clearlake Capital 'Boehly exit would be positive for Chelsea' !Thumbnail Last-gasp DRAMA sees Cardiff earn point vs Wrexham on Championship return !SKYSPORTS CHAMPIONSHIP WREXHAM CARDIFF Incredible! Cardiff score stunning 98th-minute equaliser after being denied penalty !Everton: David Moyes: 'Quite a few' more signings needed at Everton Moyes insists Everton still need 'quite a few' more signings !Flavio Cobolli in Cincinnati World number 10 Cobolli battles past Blockx in Cincinnati !How much are forward lines worth in the Premier League? How much are forward lines worth in the Premier League? !Thumbnail 'Sensational' | Moore strike fires Wrexham into lead inside three minutes !Morrison predictions Clinton's Premier League predictions | Where will every team finish? !Iga Swiatek vs Maria Sakkari Swiatek completes emphatic comeback after losing first set to Sakkari !Morgan Rogers and Cole Palmer Morgan Rogers: Why Chelsea, price tag pressure and playing with Palmer! !Chelsea Chelsea transfer latest: Who could still leave this summer? Show More Get Sky Sports [](https://www.skysports.com/auth/login) Home Sports Scores Watch More Podcasts Upcoming on Sky Get Sky Sports Sky Sports App Sky Sports with no contract British South Asians in Football Watch Sky Sports 👀 Sky Data Layer Sky Data Layer Viewer ➡️ Below are the last 15 events in the data layer with newest to eldest. SkyDataLayer Helper is present ✅ Clear

Is Enzo Fernandez worth two Rodris? Transfer valuations explained as Chelsea and Man City midfielders linked with moves - Between the Lines Chelsea value Enzo Fernandez at £120m, according to Sky Sports News, while Barcelona have agreed to sign Rodri from Man City for £65.4m - just over half as much; Between the Lines explains the difference and breaks down what goes into transfer valuations Monday 17 August 2026 13:33, UK Barcelona have agreed a £65.4m fee to sign Rodri from Man City, who could now go in for Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez, who is worth £120m according to his club. But why does the Argentina player have a much higher transfer value? Rodri is a four-time Premier League title winner who was named player of the tournament at the World Cup with Spain. And yet Chelsea are demanding almost twice as much for Fernandez. In this edition of Between the Lines, the Sky Sports strand unpicking the data behind football's biggest stories, we explain what goes into player transfer valuations as this summer's spending continues. Youth trumps experience Rodri's outstanding World Cup performances for Spain, following two injury-hit seasons with Manchester City, proved the former Ballon d'Or winner is still capable of operating at his best level. Even in a disrupted Premier League campaign last term, data from Gradient Sports shows Rodri outperformed Fernandez in five out of six key midfield metrics, including passing, carrying and tackling. Rodri's age, however, having turned 30 at the start of the summer, puts him at a different stage of his career to Fernandez, who is heading into what should be his peak years at 25. Factoring current Premier League midfielders who have reached a Transfermarkt value of £35m at some point in their careers, the graphic below shows that, on average, values peak at 27 before beginning a steady decline as players head towards their 30s. Rodri is atypical in that, according to Transfermarkt, his value peaked later, at the age of 28, when he won the Ballon D'Or. But it has subsequently dropped dramatically, from £111.1m to £47m. Fernandez's Transfermarkt value, by contrast, is at its highest point having risen to £85.5m, seemingly following the established trend. Longer deal, higher value? Contract length is another important factor in player valuations, both in relation to Rodri and Fernandez, and more broadly. Rodri had moved into the final year of his contract, meaning Manchester City ran the risk of losing him for nothing next summer, while Fernandez has six years remaining on his deal at Chelsea, putting his club in a much stronger negotiating position. Grouping current Premier League players by contract lengths clearly shows that the longer the contract, the higher the average value. According to Transfermarkt valuations, players with five or more years on their contracts, such as Fernandez, have an average value of £49.7m. Players with under a year remaining on their contracts, such as Rodri, have an average value of just £7m. It's also worth noting that Transfermarkt's valuations only factor contract lengths to a limited extent, meaning the true impact on valuations could be even greater than the data suggests. What are the biggest factors? By correlating Premier League player profiles and Transfermarkt transfer values, we found that age and contract runway rank as the two biggest factors in determining player value. The other contributing factors, according to our analysis, are short and long-term player form, club strength, quantified by Opta's power rankings, and recent availability, measured by minutes played. So, while Rodri has the superior performance record, both short and long-term, Fernandez comes out favourably in areas more impactful to transfer value such as age and contract length. Fernandez also has a far better availability record, with Rodri penalised for playing only 1,515 of a possible 3,420 Premier League minutes last season compared to Fernandez's 3,121. Fernandez's relatively clear injury history is another factor which helps to explain why he has a far higher transfer value than Rodri, despite the Manchester City midfielder being the better performer. Context matters too Transfer values are not an exact science. Valuations and actual transfer fees can differ significantly depending on the given context. Last summer's window, for example, featured strikers moving for inflated fees due to demand outweighing supply. Asking prices for players in specific positions are often benchmarked against recent moves. This summer, for example, Chelsea will be factoring the fees paid by Spurs, Manchester City and Arsenal for central midfielders Mateus Fernandes (£85m), Sandro Tonali (£100m), Elliot Anderson (£116m) and Bruno Guimaraes (£75m) in their valuation of Fernandez. The context helps to explain why Chelsea are able to set an asking price of £120m for the Argentina international, despite his Transfermarkt valuation sitting much lower, at £85.5m. This 'snowball' effect has contributed to transfer fees rising at a far higher rate than inflation, pushing the average cost of a top-level signing up from £53.9m to £61m in a year. Premier League clubs are also showing a willingness to pay a premium for Premier League-ready players, due to the ever-increasing physical demands of the competition, which may help to explain why Chelsea feel Fernandez is worth more than the £107m they paid to sign him from Benfica three years ago.

Sports Illustrated rounds up the latest transfer rumors and gossip from around the world. Premier League Manchester United are ready to reject an approach from Turkish giants Galatasaray over midfielder Bruno Fernandes, insisting he is not for sale regardless of the offer. (Source: The Independent) Coming in at United could be Freiburg striker Igor Matanović, who is being considered as a potential replacement for Joshua Zirkzee. (Source: CaughtOffside) Chelsea’s sporting directors have enlisted the help of agent Jorge Mendes to negotiate an exit for midfielder Enzo Fernández, with Manchester City prepared to do “whatever it takes” to strike a deal. (Source: AS) But Man City have ended their pursuit of another Chelsea star, winger Pedro Neto, over the Blues’ high asking price. Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal are eyeing a deal. (Source: Sada) Liverpool have agreed personal terms with both Bradley Barcola and Ibrahim Mbaye, who are waiting to receive a final answer over their futures from Paris Saint-Germain. (Source: TEAMtalk) While Liverpool have the option to match any offer Bayer Leverkusen receive for center back Jarell Quansah—a target for Arsenal—the Reds currently have no intention of doing so. (Source: BBC Sport) Arsenal believe a number of Premier League clubs are now set to test their resolve over young midfielder Ethan Nwaneri after he was left out of the squad for the Community Shield victory. (Source: Fabrizio Romano) Tottenham Hotspur have accepted an offer from Juventus to sign goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario on loan with an option to make the move permanent. (Source: The Athletic) Richarlison is open to leaving Tottenham for Everton, who have failed with an opening offer to reunite with the Brazilian striker. (Source: szyexcl) Arsenal want $46 million (£34 million) to sell winger Gabriel Martinelli amid interest from Roma. (Source: Sébastien Vidal) Napoli are also in talks to sign Martinelli, who will not be allowed to leave unless Arsenal can find a replacement. (Source: FootballTransfers) Al Hilal are looking to offload striker Karim Benzema and have set their sights on Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins as their preferred replacement. (Source: Fichajes) Both Aston Villa and Newcastle United have expressed interest in signing unwanted AC Milan forward Christopher Nkunku in what could be the third time the two sides butt heads in the summer transfer window. (Source: Daniele Longo) La Liga Jules Koundé is planning talks with Barcelona manager Hansi Flick to determine his role in the team next season. Arsenal are waiting to try and lure the Frenchman away. (Source: El Nacional) Moving in the opposite direction could be Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres, who has been earmarked as a potential replacement for Ferran Torres at Barcelona. (Source: El Chiringuito) Meanwhile, Barcelona remain in contact with the representatives of United forward Marcus Rashford as they consider a move to bring the Englishman back to Camp Nou. (Source: TEAMtalk) Rodri walked away from negotiations with Real Madrid after sensing concerns from Los Blancos over how his style of play would fit in with the rest of the squad, while the lack of contact from manager José Mourinho also left him believing a switch to Barcelona made more sense. (Source: MARCA) Despite reports to the contrary, Mourinho has not requested a move for Arsenal’s Martín Zubimendi as an alternative to Rodri. (Source: Mario Peñalver) Mourinho turned down the chance to bring Como center back Jacobo Ramón and Stuttgart midfielder Chema Andrés back to Real Madrid this summer, instead asking club officials to track the two youngsters with a view to potential moves in 2027. (Source: Defensa Central)

Manchester City have rejected an offer of £38.5m (€45m) from Barcelona for Rodri and want at least £60m before allowing Spain’s World Cup-winning captain to depart. Barcelona have emerged as Rodri’s preferred destination after talks with Real Madrid broke down this week. It is understood that the 30-year-old, who is now in the final year of his contract at City, has agreed personal terms with the Spanish champions after indicating that he would like to return to his homeland following the departure of Pep Guardiola. Rodri moved to the Etihad in 2019 from Atlético Madrid and has turned down the offer of a lucrative extension. Yet City are believed to be adamant that he will not be allowed to leave for less than their asking price. Barcelona are continuing negotiations in the hope of reaching a compromise. Rodri, who won the World Cup Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player last month, spoke to Barça’s manager, Hansi Flick, and sporting director, Deco, about a potential move on Wednesday. The Spanish champions will be without Frenkie de Jong for several months after the Netherlands midfielder sustained a knee injury and have targeted Rodri as a replacement. He has had minor surgery on his back and will miss most of City’s pre-season programme. City have signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116m and remain in negotiations with Lille over a deal for Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Morocco midfielder could cost up to £80m but they could be tempted to bring in a more experienced replacement for Rodri should he depart, with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández among those thought to be under consideration. The 25-year-old is also wanted by Real, whose manager, José Mourinho is said to not to have the news of being gazumped by their great rivals well. Reports in Spain have claimed that the 63-year-old is unhappy after making the signing of a central midfielder his priority on returning for a second stint at the Santiago Bernabéu. Real have already brought in the winger Yan Diomande for £115m and Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries and Carlos Espí, so they may have to balance the books by selling either Aurélien Tchouaméni and Eduardo Camavinga if they want to pursue Argentinian Fernández. Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of Takehiro Tomiyasu after a successful trial period. The former Arsenal defender has been training with Palace during pre-season and has done enough to earn an initial 12-month deal with the option of extending that by another two years. Tomiyasu becomes new manager Pierre Sage’s second signing of the summer after the arrival of Óscar Mingueza on a free transfer. Palace are expected to complete a deal for the USA youth international Zavier Gozo from Real Salt Lake in MLS.

Rodri has said it is “a dream” to play for Barcelona after landing in Catalonia on Monday to complete his move from Manchester City. Spain’s World Cup-winning captain will have a medical on Tuesday after City accepted Barcelona’s third bid of £65.4m. “Very happy to arrive,” Rodri said at Barcelona’s El Prat airport. “There have been some very intense days, but I’m happy that everything has been resolved. For me it’s a dream to play for Barcelona. I’m excited about being with my teammates, many of them I already know. Now it’s time to get to work and give my best.” The 30-year-old had entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and made it clear he would like the opportunity to move to Barcelona. City, who are now closing in on a deal to sign Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi, were reluctant sellers but had little choice with Rodri out of contract next summer. City had already rejected Barcelona’s bid of around €60m (£51m) for Rodri last week after an initial offer of €45m (£38.5m) but have now accepted the latest bid. Speaking after City’s 3-0 Community Shield defeat by Arsenal on Sunday, Enzo Maresca called Rodri a “top player” and said “all the teams need Rodri”, but City have been unable to persuade their linchpin to stay and sign a new contract. Rodri had only returned to the club on Friday, having undergone back surgery after the World Cup, with Maresca saying he had given him a “big hug” when he first met up with him. Rodri has spent seven seasons with City, winning the Premier League four times and scoring the only goal when they beat Inter in the 2023 Champions League final. The following year he won the Ballon d’Or but, by the time he was presented with the trophy, he was sidelined with an anterior cruciate ligament which ruled him out of most of the 2024-25 campaign, while hamstring and groin problems limited him to 33 appearances in Pep Guardiola’s final campaign in charge. City have already undergone major changes in midfield this summer, spending £116m on Elliot Anderson, while agreeing a deal to sell Tijjani Reijnders to Al Qadsiah. They are now ready to seal a move for the Morocco star Bouaddi. The teenager impressed at the World Cup and Lille had initially wanted any potential move to include a 12-month loan deal back to the French side. However, with City losing Bernardo Silva and now Rodri, Maresca is keen to bulk up his midfield options for the new campaign and want Bouaddi available for this season. City have also been linked with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández and retain an interest.

Barcelona have had a bid for Rodri rejected by Manchester City. The Spanish champions offered €45m (£38.7m) for Spain’s World Cup-winning captain, which City do not deem a serious price for the Ballon d’Or winner. No meaningful talks have taken place between the clubs yet with City reluctant to enter negotiations until there is the prospect of a deal near their valuation of the midfielder. Rodri, who has also attracted attention from Real Madrid, is in the last year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and City risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. But they do not want to sell the 30-year-old, who won the Golden Ball after being named the best player in the World Cup, at a sizeable loss, after paying £62.6m for him in 2019 Rodri is currently out after undergoing minor back surgery but is expected to be fit soon. City have already spent £116m on a midfielder this summer, paying a record sum for a British player to buy Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. They are also interested in Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi but Lens could seek a package of around €100m for the teenager. Barcelona, who have bought wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi this summer and have pursued Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, turned their attentions to Rodri as midfielder Frenkie de Jong was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Manchester City captain Rodri looks set to complete his move to Barcelona in the coming days after the English club accepted a bid of around £65 million for the Spanish midfielder. Rodri was left out of the City squad for Sunday's Community Shield match against Arsenal, with the Gunners running out 3-0 winners in Cardiff. The 30-year-old, who won the Ballon d'Or in 2024, is set to sign a four-year deal with the Spanish champions. Speaking after Sunday's defeat, new City boss Enzo Maresca said: "Rodri is a player who just won the World Cup and Ballon d'Or. "He's a top player; all the teams need a Rodri, so it's not about if we miss Rodri or not." Rodri's future at the Etihad Stadium had been the subject of reports after he was pictured on Friday travelling on a budget Ryanair flight from Madrid to Liverpool. The image went viral on social media. He is in the final year of his contract at City and has been courted by Barca's biggest rivals, Real Madrid, following a successful World Cup. In North America, Rodri was back to his brilliant best, leading Spain to a second World Cup triumph and being named player of the tournament. He has made 298 appearances across seven trophy-laden seasons at City after joining the Premier League club from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for a then-club record £62.8m. He leaves City having won 12 major honours, including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and the Uefa Champions League. City departures Rodri's impending departure is the latest in a line of long-time City players to leave the club since the end of last season. Portugal midfielder Bernardo Silva ended his nine-year stay at City by signing for Real Madrid, while the versatile Manuel Akanji made his loan move to Inter Milan permanent. Nathan Ake signed for Turkey's Fenerbahce, and fellow defender John Stones was released after 10 years following the end of his contract. Dutch midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is set to join the Saudi Pro League with Al Qadsiah. City only signed the 28-year-old from AC Milan last summer, but have already signed Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for £116 million, while an £85m deal to bring in Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille is on the verge of completion. Chelsea captain Enzo Fernandez is another City target. Maresca worked with the Argentina midfielder during an 18-month spell in charge at Stamford Bridge before parting ways with the West London club in January.

The Athletic has live coverage of the 2026 Summer Transfer Window. Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle worth €76.5million (£65.3m; $87.8m) with Manchester City for the transfer of Rodri. City will receive an upfront fee of €60million (£51.2m; $68.8m) for the central midfielder with more than €11m of the add-ons viewed as achievable, with the Premier League side expecting to achieve at least €71.5m for a player who has less than 12 months of his contract remaining. Advertisement Personal terms are not expected to be an issue for the Spain international, who starred in his nation’s World Cup success this summer, with a four-year contract proposed by champions of La Liga. Barca made an offer of around €45million (£38.6m; $52.1m) plus add-ons for Rodri on August 7. The Spanish champions had been made aware that City would want close to €80m to sanction his exit. The Athletic reported on August 6 that Barcelona were exploring a deal for Rodri, and the 30-year-old preferred a move to Camp Nou over any other club. Real Madrid had also been exploring a move for the Spain captain this summer. Rodri has entered the final 12 months of his City contract and has not shown a willingness to extend his terms. A move to Barcelona would see the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner join up with seven members of Spain’s 2026 World Cup winning squad: Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal. Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball following his performances at the tournament. Hansi Flick’s side will be without fellow midfielder Frenkie de Jong for a lengthy spell due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. City, meanwhile, signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a £116million ($155m) deal in July. The Athletic reported on July 14 they were also pushing to sign Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, from Lille, who impressed at the World Cup. Rodri moved to City from Atletico in 2019 and has won four Premier League titles, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup on three occasions and the Champions League, scoring the winning goal in the 2023 final. He has made 298 appearances for the club, providing 28 goals and 32 assists.

Barcelone trouve un accord pour le transfert de Rodri en provenance de Manchester City. (Journal Dan Tri) - Le FC Barcelone et Manchester City ont trouvé un accord pour le transfert de Rodri, pour un montant de 76,5 millions d'euros. Après sept saisons couronnées de succès en Premier League, Rodri s'apprête à retrouver la Liga et à porter le maillot du Camp Nou. Báo Dân trí•17/08/2026 Le FC Barcelone a créé la surprise lors du mercato estival 2026 en concluant un accord pour le transfert du milieu de terrainRodri, en provenance de Manchester City. Des sources catalanes ont confirmé à l'AFP que tous les termes du transfert ont été trouvés et que l'annonce officielle sera faite prochainement. Le montant du transfert de Rodri est estimé à environ 76,5 millions d'euros. Manchester City recevra 60 millions d'euros immédiatement, le reste étant constitué de bonus. L'arrivée de Rodri à Barcelone a marqué le début d'une nouvelle ère prometteuse dans son illustre carrière. Transféré de l'Atlético Madrid à Manchester City en 2019, le milieu de terrain, né en 1996, est rapidement devenu un pilier indispensable sous les ordres de Pep Guardiola. En sept saisons à l'Etihad, il a joué un rôle majeur dans quatre titres de Premier League et, surtout, dans la victoire en Ligue des champions lors de la saison 2022-2023. Rodri a notamment inscrit l'unique but de la finale de la Ligue des champions 2023, permettant à Manchester City de remporter cette prestigieuse compétition pour la première fois. Sa régularité et son influence exceptionnelle au milieu de terrain lui ont également valu le prestigieux Ballon d'Or 2024. Après son triomphe en Coupe du monde avec l'équipe nationale espagnole en juillet dernier, l'avenir de Rodri a suscité un vif intérêt médiatique. Malgré l'intérêt du Real Madrid, Barcelone s'est montré plus offensif dans les négociations et a finalement remporté la mise. Vous aimerez peut-être Initialement, Rodri ne figurait pas parmi les priorités du FC Barcelone pour le mercato estival . Cependant, la blessure de longue durée de Frenkie de Jong a contraint le club catalan à revoir ses plans. L'absence d'un milieu de terrain de haut niveau, capable de contrôler le rythme et d'organiser le jeu, l'a poussé à se tourner vers le joueur espagnol. Pour conclure ce transfert, Barcelone a dû traverser des négociations tendues. Après deux refus, la direction blaugrana a décidé de revoir son offre à la hausse et a finalement réussi à convaincre Manchester City de laisser partir son joueur clé. Pour Manchester City, le départ de Rodri représente une perte considérable, d'autant plus que le club vient d'entamer une nouvelle ère sous la direction d'Enzo Maresca. Après leur défaite 0-3 face à Arsenal lors du Community Shield, le technicien italien a admis que l'équipe restait active sur le marché des transferts. Auparavant, City avait dépensé 116 millions de livres sterling pour recruter Elliot Anderson et continue de rechercher de jeunes milieux de terrain afin de dynamiser son secteur. Par ailleurs, Rodri a connu un début de préparation difficile en raison d'une blessure. Bien que le milieu de terrain espagnol ait repris l'entraînement récemment après une opération du dos, l'accélération des négociations menées par Barcelone a mis son avenir à l'Etihad en péril. Vous aimerez peut-être À Barcelone, Rodri devrait jouer un rôle prépondérant au milieu de terrain, contribuant à renforcer la domination de l'équipe sur le jeu. L'arrivée d'un joueur de classe mondiale est stratégiquement importante, le Barça ambitionnant de dominer la Liga et les compétitions européennes. Après Rodri, Barcelone s'apprête à accueillir un autre visage familier : João Cancelo. Le défenseur portugais devrait faire son retour au Camp Nou dans les prochains jours, suite à un transfert, afin de renforcer la défense. Sauf changement de dernière minute, le retour de Rodri en Liga après sept ans d'absence conclura son brillant parcours en Angleterre, ouvrant un nouveau chapitre prometteur dans sa quête de nouveaux sommets avec Barcelone.