Manchester City are demanding a transfer fee of £70-80m for Rodri despite recognising that the valuation is unrealistic, with the club seeking to raise funds for a potential move for Enzo, according to The Times.
The Premier League club have rejected Barcelona’s second official offer for Rodri. Barcelona initially proposed €45m plus add-ons before increasing its bid to between €55m and €60m, with the overall package potentially reaching €65m.
However, City continue to insist that any agreement must include a guaranteed fee of £70-80m. The club reportedly accepts that Barcelona’s offer is closer to the player’s market value and that it may be difficult to secure such a high payment for a footballer whose contract runs until 2027.
Despite that, City have so far refused to reduce their demands. Rodri is expected to report back for team duties on Friday, adding further pressure to negotiations between the clubs and creating a difficult situation for all parties involved.
The disagreement is also linked to City’s interest in signing Enzo. Chelsea have placed a £120m price tag on the deal, equivalent to about €140m, meaning City would need to generate significant funds if they are to pursue the transfer.
City therefore face a difficult choice. If they end discussions with Barcelona, they could miss out on a fee of around €60m and risk damaging their relationship with Rodri. Yet continuing to hold out for a higher guaranteed payment could prevent the move from progressing.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are unwilling to abandon their pursuit of the midfielder. The Catalan club have already increased their offer, but City’s valuation remains above the level they have so far been prepared to pay.
Rodri’s position makes the matter more complicated. The Times reports that he has agreed to join Barcelona, while City’s refusal to accept the current proposal leaves his future unresolved as he prepares to return to the squad.
The situation is therefore dependent on whether Barcelona can improve the structure or value of their offer, or whether City decide that securing a sizeable payment now is more important than maintaining their current negotiating position. At the same time, the Premier League side must weigh the potential loss of the funds against their ambition to sign Enzo, for whom Chelsea are seeking one of the largest fees in the transfer market.
For now, City are continuing to demand a figure that they privately know may be unrealistic, while Barcelona remain committed to signing Rodri and the player waits for the outcome of the talks.
