City are understood to have rejected an opening bid of GBP 38.5 million ($52 million) from Barcelona for the midfielder. The 30-year-old has just one season remaining on his deal at the Etihad and has been strongly linked with a return to his native Spain. City are reported to want about GBP 68 million for Rodri, who was named player of the tournament at the recent World Cup in North America.
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca said “anything can happen” amid reports La Liga champions Barcelona have bid to sign World Cup winner Rodri.
Barcelona could now come back with an increased offer for Rodri, which in turn may lead to a City move for Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez.
Rodri was the last City player to report for pre-season training, only arriving back on Friday, having had back surgery after starring in Spain’s World Cup triumph. City have already spent GBP 116 million on England’s Elliot Anderson following Bernardo Silva’s exit, but fellow midfielder Tijjani Reijnders is on the verge of joining Saudi club Al Qadsiah in a deal estimated to be worth £51 million.
“First of all, we already said the transfer window is open, we can buy and sell players, anything can happen,” Maresca told a press conference on Friday ahead of this weekend’s Community Shield clash against Arsenal. Maresca added he would not speak about players under contract at other clubs, but said City still have work to do in the final weeks of the summer transfer window. “Tijjani’s situation is like James Trafford’s situation, some more players, but I think when the club, the player, the manager, they all think the same way, that probably the best decision for a player is to go, you have to go.”
