Barcelona exploring deal for Manchester City midfielder Rodri amid Real Madrid interest

By Arjun Nair / 06.08.2026

By Arjun Nair — 6 August 2026 — 3 min read

Manchester City midfielder Rodri is reportedly a target for La Liga champions Barcelona, with the club exploring a potential deal. This comes as Real Madrid has also shown long-term interest in signing the player. Rodri is in the final year of his contract with City and has not yet agreed to new terms.

Sources close to the negotiations indicate that Barcelona has held discussions with Rodri’s representatives regarding the conditions of a possible transfer. The prospect of joining Barcelona is understood to be appealing to Rodri, particularly due to the club’s playing style and the opportunity to reunite with several Spanish national team members from the World Cup-winning squad. These include Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Ferran Torres, and Lamine Yamal.

Interest from Spanish Giants

Real Madrid has been working on a deal for Rodri, operating on the assumption that an agreement could be reached for the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner. Personal terms with the midfielder are not expected to be an issue for Madrid, but negotiations with Manchester City regarding a transfer fee are still pending. Madrid remains interested in the Spain international, despite Barcelona’s pursuit.

Barcelona’s interest in Rodri comes as midfielder Frenkie de Jong is expected to be out for an extended period due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee. The club would need to sell players to create financial flexibility and space within their salary limits to proceed with a deal for Rodri. Rodri has previously expressed a desire to return to his home country and play in La Liga again during his career, while also acknowledging the appeal of representing Madrid.

Rodri joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2019. During his time at City, he has won four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups, and the Champions League in 2023, where he scored the winning goal in the final. He has made 298 appearances for City, contributing 28 goals and 32 assists.

Potential Fit and Financial Considerations

Analysis suggests that Barcelona could offer a stable environment for Rodri’s playing style, which involves setting the tempo and counter-pressing. The tactical identity of Hansi Flick’s Barcelona team is considered similar to Pep Guardiola’s City, emphasizing ball circulation, territorial dominance, and intricate passing sequences. Rodri’s defensive positioning, tackling ability, and passing range would align with Barcelona’s midfield structure, where full-backs push high and midfield partners advance into the final third.

Barcelona’s financial position is projected to improve due to their return to Camp Nou, which is expected to generate additional income. The club has also offloaded significant wages, including Robert Lewandowski’s departure, which should facilitate player registrations more effectively than in previous summers. However, the ongoing redevelopment of Camp Nou will require the club to temporarily relocate next summer, impacting matchday revenues and potentially increasing their loan to complete the rebuild.

If Rodri were to leave City, it would be a significant blow, especially after the departure of Bernardo Silva, who joined Real Madrid this summer. City sources have previously stated they are “counting on” Rodri for the upcoming season, and a substantial fee would be required for the club to consider his sale. City is also in talks to sign 18-year-old midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi from Lille.

Rodri missed a significant portion of the 2024-25 campaign due to a serious knee injury and also experienced a hamstring issue last season. However, he returned to form at the World Cup, leading Spain to their second title and being named player of the tournament. He is currently recovering from back surgery and has not yet linked up with his teammates for City’s pre-season tour.

The 30-year-old midfielder was also named player of the tournament when Spain won the European Championship in 2024.

Source: bbc.com