Rodri says yes to Barcelona but City says no

Rodri has decided to leave his club. He has also chosen his destination: Barcelona. But the Spanish midfielder’s desire alone will not be enough to complete the transfer. To bring him to Camp Nou, Barcelona will have to enter difficult negotiations with Manchester City.

According to Spanish newspaper Sport, Rodri has agreed to join Barcelona. His decision became even clearer after a direct phone conversation with coach Hansi Flick. Real Madrid were also interested in signing him. However, Madrid have withdrawn from the race because of disagreements over the financial terms. Rodri’s agent has also confirmed that his client informed Real Madrid officials of his decision. He wants to join Barcelona.

However, Rodri’s preference and City’s valuation do not match. Barcelona have offered €45 million plus another €15 million in performance based bonuses for the 30 year old midfielder. City, however, are demanding €65 million. As a result, the English club are preparing to reject Barcelona’s initial offer.

Barcelona’s argument is that Rodri has only 11 months remaining on his current contract. Therefore, they consider the total €60 million package sufficient. City, on the other hand, are unwilling to move even slightly from their position. Manchester City have rarely kept a player against his wishes. But in Rodri’s case, they are not willing to let him leave unless they receive their desired fee.

There is another reason behind Barcelona’s interest in Rodri. With Frenkie de Jong’s injury problems continuing for an extended period, Barcelona need a reliable leader in midfield. Flick and Barcelona consider Rodri ideal for that role.

Barcelona have already tried to create room within their squad’s wage structure to accommodate Rodri’s salary and transfer fee. For now, the only obstacle is the financial figure.