NewsIndia

By Ishaan Kapoor — 13 August 2026 — 3 min read

Transfer negotiations for Rodri

Manchester City have turned down a new offer of £55m from Barcelona for midfielder Rodri. This follows an initial bid of around £40m from Barcelona last week, which was also rejected. Barcelona had been expected to increase their offer to a range between £50m and £60m, but City considers the latest bid insufficient.

City is reportedly seeking more than £60m for the 30-year-old midfielder, who is in the final year of his current contract. Despite the rejected bids, Barcelona remains keen on signing Rodri and is currently evaluating its next steps. Talks between the clubs are ongoing.

Reports indicate that City’s preference is to keep the Spain international and agree to a new contract. However, it has been suggested that if Rodri expresses a desire to leave, the club would not prevent his departure.

Midfield movements at Manchester City

In related transfer news, Manchester City is also in discussions with Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah regarding the potential sale of midfielder Tijjani Reijnders. Advanced and positive talks are reportedly underway for a deal valued at approximately £51.3m (€60m).

Al Qadsiah views Reijnders as a world-class player and is looking to strengthen its midfield as it prepares for its first Asian Champions League campaign. The Saudi club is also set to move into its new Aramco Stadium.

The potential departures of Rodri and Reijnders could lead to City losing two central midfielders. Consequently, the club is looking to sign new players for the position, with reported interest in Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Chelsea has set a deadline of Friday at 5 PM for City to submit a £120m bid for Enzo Fernandez. Meanwhile, discussions are continuing with Lille for Bouaddi. Jérémy Doku has recently signed a contract extension with City, committing to the club until 2031. The 24-year-old winger expressed his excitement for the new season under Enzo Maresca and acknowledged the support from City fans as a significant factor in his decision to extend his contract.

Rodri’s potential move and Real Madrid’s interest

While Barcelona pursues Rodri, Real Madrid had also shown interest in the midfielder. Reports last month indicated that Madrid was working on a deal to sign Rodri from Manchester City. However, it later became clear that Rodri preferred a move to Barcelona, Real Madrid’s rivals. This means Rodri will not be joining Real Madrid in the near future.

For Real Madrid, missing out on Rodri is considered a setback, particularly in a midfield position that has been a concern since Toni Kroos’ retirement in 2024 and Luka Modric’s departure in 2025. The club has reportedly lacked a midfielder capable of consistently dictating the tempo of matches.

Despite having several midfielders in their squad, including new signing Bernardo Silva, there has been an internal recognition of the need for a player who can dominate the central midfield. Previous coaches, including Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso, had highlighted the need to strengthen the midfield, a move that did not materialise at the time.

Real Madrid’s current manager, Jose Mourinho, had also expressed a desire for a “creative” midfielder. While the club signed Bernardo Silva in June until 2028 on a free transfer from Manchester City, Mourinho reportedly continued to seek another midfielder after this signing. The failed attempt to sign Rodri from City adds further significance to Real Madrid’s midfield situation.

The club’s current stance is that no further midfield signings will be made unless players depart, citing a complete 25-man squad with at least two players for each position. However, this position has previously shifted, as seen with the pursuit of Yan Diomande and Rodri.

Rodri, who captained Spain to victory at the World Cup and is a former Ballon d’Or winner, has been identified as a ‘Tempo Controller’ in player analysis models. This profile is seen as crucial for teams needing a player who can control game flow with composure and bolster defensive shape with anticipation. As of Thursday, August 13, 2026, discussions regarding Rodri’s future remain ongoing.

Source: skysports.com