Barcelona Set to Sign Manchester City's Rodri for £65 Million

Barcelona have reached an agreement to bring Rodri from Manchester City on a four-year contract, with the transfer fee reported at £65 million. This deal will end Rodri's seven-year tenure in England, where he has been a key figure since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2019 for £62.8 million.

Rodri’s Time at Manchester City

During his spell with Manchester City, Rodri collected 12 major trophies including four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three EFL Cups, and the Champions League. Despite suffering a serious knee injury last season that sidelined him for a significant time, he made a strong recovery to captain Spain to victory at the World Cup this summer.

Manchester City Eye Enzo Fernandez as Replacement

With Rodri moving on, Manchester City are targeting Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez to fill the midfield gap. Chelsea have set a hefty price tag of £120 million for Fernandez and requested formal offers by Friday, but no bids arrived by the deadline. This leaves the door open for ongoing talks, as City believe Chelsea might still negotiate the transfer.

If City match Chelsea’s £120 million valuation, it would rank as the fourth-largest transfer in football history. The club is carefully considering its options as they plan to reinforce their midfield strength.

Enzo Maresca’s Tactical Plans

Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca is a big admirer of Fernandez, having managed him previously at Chelsea. Maresca named Fernandez captain during his time at Stamford Bridge when Reece James was injured and relied heavily on him, playing him in 79 of 92 games. Though Fernandez usually plays a defensive midfield role, Maresca often pushed him forward last season to cover for injuries, leading to a career-best 15 goals.

With Elliot Anderson arriving from Nottingham Forest, Maresca could deploy both Anderson and Fernandez together, offering tactical versatility in midfield.

What’s Next for the Clubs?

Barcelona are expected to finalize and announce Rodri’s signing shortly as they prepare for the new season. Meanwhile, Manchester City faces a decision on whether to submit an official offer for Fernandez or seek other midfield options. It remains uncertain if Chelsea will hold firm on their £120 million price or soften their stance to complete the deal.

Upcoming Fixtures

• Barcelona vs Al Ahly SCAHL - 19 Aug 2026, 20:00
• Manchester City vs AFC Bournemouth - 23 Aug 2026, 15:00