Barcelona have entered the race to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri, attempting to capitalize on the delay in finalizing his anticipated transfer to Real Madrid.
Despite Barcelona monitoring the situation closely, their interest is unlikely to alter the 30-year-old’s plans, with the Spanish international having already established his preferred destination should he depart the Etihad Stadium.
Rodri Unmoved by Barcelona Interest
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Manchester City anticipate a strong push from Barcelona for Rodri, which has contributed to the delay in completing his move to Real Madrid.
The Premier League champions are seeking clarity on the player’s stance before proceeding with negotiations, expecting Rodri to formally communicate that Real Madrid remains his sole desired destination.
Despite Barcelona’s inquiries and readiness to open talks, Rodri is not considering a move to the Catalan club. He maintains Real Madrid as his priority and sees no alternative destination should he leave Manchester City. No official bid has been submitted by Barcelona.
Desire to Return to Madrid
Rodri’s preference for Real Madrid is closely tied to his desire to return to his hometown of Madrid, where he was born and developed as a player.
The midfielder previously developed in Atlético Madrid’s youth academy before moving to Villarreal, later returning to Atlético for the 2018–2019 season. Rodri does not view his past association with Atlético as an obstacle to joining Real Madrid, previously stating: “You cannot say no to one of the best clubs in the world.”
According to Spanish daily AS, other interested clubs—including Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich—withdrew from consideration upon learning that Real Madrid remains his exclusive priority.
Negotiation Status Between Real Madrid and Manchester City
Real Madrid initiated direct talks with Manchester City following approval from president Florentino Pérez and newly appointed manager José Mourinho.
The Spanish club submitted an initial verbal proposal valued at approximately €50 million, while Manchester City are seeking around €75 million. Real Madrid hope to reach a compromise at around €60 million, leveraging the fact that Rodri has entered the final year of his contract, which runs through June 2027.
Real Madrid’s initial reservations regarding Rodri’s physical condition and transfer valuation dissolved following his stellar performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
