According to Catalunya Ràdio, Barcelona has initiated transfer negotiations for Rodri, submitting an initial offer of €45 million plus add-ons, which Manchester City has rejected. The player himself prefers to join Barcelona, while Manchester City is hoping for an offer closer to €80 million.

Rodri was initially a target for Real Madrid, but their delay in making a decision gave Barcelona an opportunity to pursue one of the world's best midfielders.

Real Madrid can never be ruled out of contention, but Rodri currently values the project offered by Barcelona more. If he eventually joins, he will become club teammates with several of his Spanish national team colleagues.

Discussions between Barcelona and Manchester City have begun, and the Blaugrana have made their first offer.

Manchester City has rejected Barcelona's initial bid for the transfer, as negotiations are still in the early stages, with both sides testing each other's bottom line. Barcelona's current terms are €45 million, with an additional amount upon achieving specific targets.

The English side has given a clear negative response to this initial offer, but this is merely part of the negotiation process. Manchester City has signaled that their asking price is closer to €80 million. Following the usual progression of such negotiations, the back-and-forth is likely to continue for the next few hours, or even days, until both parties find common ground at a midway price.

However, Manchester City has also stated that they do not wish for the negotiations to drag on too long and will set a deadline, requesting Barcelona to submit a sufficiently sincere financial offer as soon as possible.

Rodri, 30, has one year remaining on his contract with Manchester City. A few months ago, he rejected the club's renewal offer, citing his desire to return to La Liga. This also sparked Real Madrid's initial interest.

For Barcelona, the midfield was not a priority transfer target at the beginning of the season, but De Jong's injury changed the situation. Rodri expressed his desire for a change of scenery, and Real Madrid's inability to reach an agreement with Manchester City prompted Barcelona to accelerate their efforts, hoping to complete a signing that would excite fans.

Furthermore, in terms of playing style, Rodri can quickly adapt to the team's system and fully meets the requirements of Flick. Flick hopes to bring in experienced players to guide Barcelona's young talents. It is reported that the German coach has already called Rodri, confirming that he would be delighted to have him under his command and explaining the role he has envisioned for him.

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