Man City sends final request to Barcelona about Rodri transfer after Community Shield result is decided
Manchester City have asked Barcelona to raise their transfer offer for Rodri by €10 million if they want to sign him this summer. The 30-year-old midfielder plans to leave City before the transfer window closes and is eager to join the current La Liga champions, Barcelona.
City recently turned down Barcelona’s latest bid and have now set their final price. According to MARCA, the two clubs are getting closer to an agreement, with their sporting directors Deco and Hugo Viana talking about wrapping up the deal early next week.
Barcelona’s last offer was €70 million, including €60 million guaranteed and €10 million in bonuses. But City want €80 million in total, with €70 million guaranteed for the World Cup winner.
Both clubs seem very hopeful the deal will happen soon. It’s believed the transfer could be finalized on Monday since both teams have matches on Sunday—City will play Arsenal in the Community Shield in Cardiff, while Barcelona face FC Basel in Switzerland.
It looks like Rodri has already played his final game for Man City, as he wasn’t selected for Sunday’s match against Arsenal. The Spain midfielder wasn’t even part of the traveling squad, the Daily Mail reports.
Man City manager Enzo Maresca chose a strong lineup with Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal, Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol as center-backs, and Abdukodir Khusanov and Nico O’Reilly at full-back. Elliot Anderson and Mateo Kovacic will play in midfield, while Phil Foden, Jeremy Doku, and Antoine Semenyo make up the attack behind Erling Haaland. Jack Grealish, who was out on loan last season, is also on the bench.
Before this summer’s World Cup, Rodri shared his wish to return to Spain, seven years after leaving Atletico Madrid for Manchester. “I would like to return to La Liga, yes, of course,” he told Onda Cero. “It’s where I started. I still follow it, not as much as before, but I do. For now, I’m very happy here. I have one year left on my contract, so there will be a time to talk and decide.”