Barcelona have made a significantly improved offer for Manchester City midfielder Rodri as the Catalan giants attempt to complete one of the biggest transfers of the summer.
Barcelona have intensified their pursuit of Manchester City superstar Rodri by submitting an improved offer worth around €60 million, but the Premier League giants are still holding firm as negotiations over one of the summer’s biggest transfers continue.
The Catalan club have made the Spanish midfielder one of their major priorities and are now pushing to find an agreement with Manchester City after seeing their opening proposal rejected.
According to The Guardian, Barcelona’s latest offer is worth approximately €60 million (£51 million), a substantial increase from their initial bid of around €45 million. The improved proposal has brought the two clubs closer together, although an agreement has not yet been reached.
The Times, however, reports that Manchester City have rejected Barcelona’s second offer and are demanding approximately £70 million before agreeing to sell the Spain captain.
That leaves Barcelona with a clear decision to make: increase their offer again or attempt to negotiate a compromise with City before the transfer window enters its decisive stages.
Barcelona significantly increase their offer for Rodri
Barcelona’s first attempt to sign Rodri was unsuccessful.
Manchester City rejected an opening proposal worth approximately £38.5 million (€45 million) earlier in August, with the Premier League club considering the bid insufficient for one of the most influential midfielders in world football.
Barça have now returned with substantially more money.
The latest package has been reported at roughly £51 million, or €60 million, with additional bonuses potentially increasing its final value. The Times places the proposal at £51.3 million plus around £5 million in add-ons.
The size of the increase alone demonstrates how serious Barcelona are about completing the transfer.
They are no longer simply monitoring Rodri’s situation or exploring whether a deal might be possible. Negotiations between the clubs are now taking place over concrete figures.
But Manchester City remain in a strong negotiating position and are not prepared to allow one of their most important players to leave cheaply.
Rodri reportedly wants Barcelona move
One factor working strongly in Barcelona’s favor is Rodri’s own position.
The Guardian reports that the 30-year-old would prefer a move to Barcelona, with the Spain international appearing increasingly open to leaving Manchester City and returning to La Liga.
AS has also reported that Barcelona believe they have made significant progress with the player’s camp, although the crucial agreement with Manchester City remains outstanding.
Rodri’s contract situation adds further intrigue.
He is entering the final year of his Manchester City deal, meaning the English club must weigh the value of keeping an elite midfielder for another season against the possibility of eventually losing considerable leverage over his future.
Barcelona are hoping that situation can help them avoid paying the type of fee City might normally demand for a player of Rodri’s stature.
Manchester City refusing to give Rodri away
Despite Rodri’s apparent desire to make the move, Manchester City are under no obligation to accept Barcelona’s current terms.
Reports on Wednesday offered differing estimates of exactly what City would consider sufficient.
The Guardian suggested Barcelona’s improved proposal had moved considerably closer to City’s valuation, while The Times reported that the Premier League club now want around £70 million.
The discrepancy makes one thing clear: there is still no final agreement.
Barcelona have made major progress from their opening €45 million proposal, but they have not yet reached the point where Rodri can be described as a Barça player.
Any claims that the transfer is already complete would therefore be premature.
Man City begin looking at potential Rodri replacements
There is another development that could prove significant.
Manchester City are already considering possible midfield replacements should Rodri leave, with Chelsea star Enzo Fernández among the names being discussed.
The Guardian reports that City have identified the Argentina international as a potential replacement, although Chelsea’s valuation — reportedly around £120 million — would make any deal extremely expensive.
The Times also names Fernández as a leading target for City if Rodri departs.
The fact that Manchester City are examining alternatives does not mean they have agreed to sell Rodri.
It does, however, suggest that the club are preparing for the possibility that their midfield leader could leave before the window closes.
City have already invested heavily in midfield this summer, including the signing of England international Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Anderson himself acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding Rodri’s future while speaking ahead of the new season.
Why Barcelona want Rodri
For Barcelona, the attraction is obvious.
Rodri offers exactly the profile required to control the deepest area of midfield: exceptional positional awareness, composure under pressure, physical presence and the ability to dictate matches from the center of the pitch.
He also brings enormous experience at the highest level.
The midfielder won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 and has established himself as one of the defining players of his generation in his position. He also captained Spain during their successful 2026 World Cup campaign.
Adding a player of that caliber would immediately strengthen Barcelona’s ambitions both domestically and in the Champions League.
And unlike many high-profile foreign targets, Rodri already understands Spanish football after previously representing Atlético Madrid before joining Manchester City.
From Barcelona’s perspective, it is an opportunity to acquire an elite Spanish midfielder who can become the reference point of their midfield immediately.
Could the transfer happen soon?
The next move may belong to Barcelona.
Their first bid was rejected. Their second proposal represents a major improvement but, according to the latest reports from England, Manchester City still want more.
If Barcelona are convinced Rodri wants the move, they may believe patience can strengthen their negotiating position — particularly given his contract situation.
Manchester City, meanwhile, will know that selling such an important player just before the new season would create its own problems, especially if a replacement has not already been secured.
That creates the conditions for a classic transfer negotiation.
Barcelona have the player they want.
Rodri reportedly favors the move.
Manchester City have a price.
And right now, the numbers still do not quite match.
Rodri to Barcelona: where the deal stands now
As of Thursday, August 13, the situation can be summarized clearly:
Barcelona are actively negotiating to sign Rodri and have made an improved offer of around €60 million.
Manchester City have not accepted the proposal, with one report putting their asking price at approximately £70 million.
Rodri is reported to favor a move to Barcelona.
City are also exploring potential midfield replacements, including Enzo Fernández.
There is therefore genuine momentum behind the transfer — but no deal yet.
Barcelona have made their intentions clear with a significantly improved bid. Manchester City have made theirs equally clear by refusing to lower their demands.
The gap is narrowing.
Now the question is whether Barça are prepared to make one final push to bring one of Spain’s biggest stars to the Camp Nou.
