Rodri’s switch closes a fortnight of back-and-forth between two clubs that started far apart on value. Sky Sports reported earlier this month that City rejected an initial Barcelona offer in the region of £40m as “far too low”, and turned down a follow-up bid of £55m in the same week. The third proposal, £51.2m fixed plus £14.2m in add-ons, took the package to £65.4m and moved the deal across the line.

The 30-year-old has been authorised to travel to Barcelona on Monday, 17 August. A medical is scheduled this week and a four-year contract, running to 2030, awaits him in Catalonia.

Flick made the decisive call

Barcelona’s push was fronted by head coach Hansi Flick, whose phone call convinced Rodri to commit. According to Forbes, the player’s agent confirmed on Spanish radio that his client preferred Barcelona over Real Madrid, whose separate talks had broken down before the Catalan club moved in.

Etihad exit after almost 300 appearances

Rodri leaves the Etihad after almost 300 appearances, 28 goals and 32 assists since joining from Atlético Madrid in July 2019. He won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 and captained Spain to World Cup glory last month.

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Maresca hunting a midfield leader

The move puts pressure on head coach Enzo Maresca, who was appointed as Pep Guardiola’s successor in June and now inherits the task of rebuilding the midfield without its metronome.

After the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal, Maresca told reporters that “all teams need a player like Rodri”. Chelsea’s Enzo Fernández has been identified as the preferred replacement, but Chelsea’s £120m valuation and a Friday bid deadline that City did not meet complicate the pursuit. Lille’s Ayyoub Bouaddi is being tracked as an alternative.

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