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Barcelona have seen their opening bid for Rodri rejected, with Manchester City making their stance clear.
The Spanish side submitted an offer worth around £38.6m for the midfielder. City, however, value Rodri far higher and are not prepared to negotiate at that level.
Rodri’s future has been a growing talking point this summer, especially with just one year left on his current contract at the Etihad.
The Spanish captain recently helped Spain win the World Cup against Argentina.
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Manchester City stand firm as Barcelona fall short with Rodri bid
City believe Barcelona’s proposal is too low to even begin serious discussions.
Reports suggest the Enzo Maresca managed side are holding out for a figure closer to £68.5m, highlighting a significant gap between the two clubs.
That puts the ball firmly back in Barcelona’s court.
Despite the setback, the La Liga side are expected to return with an improved offer as they push to bring Rodri back to Spain.
The player himself is understood to favour a move to Barcelona, which could play a role as talks continue.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have also been linked, though Barcelona’s interest appears to be the most concrete at this stage.
City’s position is strengthened by recent activity in the transfer market.
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They have already added Elliot Anderson to their midfield options, while further reinforcements are being explored.
At the same time, departures from their 2023 Champions League-winning squad have begun to reshape the group with Guardiola already out after a 10-year-stint.
That makes Rodri’s situation even more important heading into the new season.
Barcelona are also dealing with their own squad issues, including Frenkie de Jong’s injury, which has increased the urgency to sign a midfielder.
However, finances remain a key factor in getting any deal over the line.
For now, City are holding firm and waiting for Barcelona to match their valuation.
Unless that happens, Rodri is expected to remain in Manchester in the short term, with the next move likely to come from Spain.
City will now take on Arsenal next week in the FA Community Shield final.
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