Barcelona intensify Rodri pursuit after City reject £38.5m bid

Barcelona have increased their efforts to sign Manchester City midfielder Rodri following the rejection of an initial £38.5m bid. The Spanish international has one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium. Manchester City are holding out for a fee of approximately £68m to allow the 30-year-old to leave.

City manager Enzo Maresca addressed the uncertainty regarding the midfielder ahead of the Community Shield match against Arsenal. Maresca confirmed that Rodri has returned to the club's training facilities after undergoing back surgery following his recent World Cup success with Spain. While the manager welcomed the player back, he noted that anything could happen during the transfer window.

Rodri, who previously played for Villarreal and Atletico Madrid, was the player of the tournament during the recent World Cup in North America. His recent accolades include winning Euro 2024 with Spain and receiving the Ballon d’Or. Since moving to Manchester City in 2019, he has secured multiple Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League trophy.

Manchester City may also see Tijjani Reijnders depart for the Saudi Arabian side Al Qadsiah in a deal worth an estimated £51m. The Dutch midfielder, who joined from AC Milan for £46.5m last year, has only featured in half of the club's Premier League fixtures. Maresca suggested that a move for Reijnders would depend on the player finding a path to more regular playing time.

Speculation has linked City with Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez as a potential replacement for Rodri. However, Maresca dismissed the possibility of an immediate move for the midfielder, stating that the club would not be making a bid today. The squad is currently preparing for their season opener against Arsenal, the team that finished seven points ahead of them in the previous Premier League campaign.