BBC Reports Manchester City Have Rejected Barcelona’s Proposal for Rodri

Barcelona have suffered a significant setback in their pursuit of Rodri Hernández, with BBC Sport reporting that Manchester City have rejected the Catalan club’s opening offer for the Spain midfielder.

According to the report, Barcelona submitted an initial proposal worth around £38.5 million, but the Premier League champions turned it down immediately. City are not completely unwilling to consider a sale, yet they value Rodri at more than £60 million.

The 30-year-old has entered the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and has not yet signed a new deal. That situation has fueled intense speculation about his future throughout the summer transfer window. In recent weeks, Real Madrid had been considered the most likely destination, but BBC now claim that Barcelona have moved ahead of their El Clasico rivals in the race.

Sources cited by the British broadcaster say that Barcelona have already received the player’s approval to open formal negotiations with City, and the first offer was submitted on Friday. While Barcelona sources initially suggested there was no guarantee of a deal, the talks are now believed to be progressing.

Rodri’s recent club career has been heavily disrupted by injuries. An anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury kept him out for much of the 2024-25 season, and he also struggled with several physical issues during the following campaign, preventing City from using him regularly.

Despite those setbacks, Rodri returned to top form on the international stage. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner played a major role in Spain’s World Cup triumph and was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player, even without scoring or providing an assist.

The midfielder is currently recovering from back surgery performed last month and is expected to rejoin his Manchester City teammates in Manchester early next week.

City are also keen to resolve Rodri’s future quickly as the second half of August approaches. The club is already exploring potential replacements, and BBC report that talks are ongoing over a move for Lille’s 18-year-old Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi. However, the French club’s asking price of around £86 million is understood to be a major obstacle.

With Barcelona pushing forward, City holding a firm position, and Rodri’s contract situation still unresolved, the Spain midfielder has become one of the biggest and most closely watched transfer stories of the summer.