Barcelona Rodri bid rejected by Manchester City as Enzo Maresca's side holds firm on transfer fee
· Yahoo Sports
Manchester City have turned down an offer from Barcelona for Rodri as they hold firm for in excess of £60 million ($80.9 million) for the FIFA World Cup-winning midfielder.
The club will not force Rodri to remain for the final year of his contract but will refuse to allow their Ballon d'Or winner to leave at a cut-rate price.
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Rodri's future has been uncertain for some time, with City's attempts to tie him down to a new deal proving unsuccessful. The club had hoped to persuade him even after the World Cup, only for the player to decide he was ready for a fresh challenge.
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Real Madrid had adjusted their transfer plans for the midfielder after he won the Golden Ball at this summer's World Cup, only for Barcelona to make a compelling pitch. The Catalan club are now frontrunners to secure his signature - but City will not allow the 30-year-old to leave below their asking price, as per the Manchester Evening News.
A fee in excess of £60 million has been demanded and Barcelona's initial offer fell considerably short of that figure. City anticipate the Catalan club to come back to the table, but expect a substantially improved offer.
The Blues are also determined to find a replacement for Rodri and any other potential departures before the transfer window closes. With a move for Ayyoub Bouaddi also being pursued alongside any necessary replacements, the club are committed to backing up their January transfer business to give Enzo Maresca the best possible platform for success as he takes over from Pep Guardiola.
City have already brought in Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a club-record £116 million ($155.2 million) deal, with the England international set to strengthen their midfield options.
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However, Rodri's exit would open up another gap in the squad, while Tijjani Reijnders could also move on, with the Netherlands international drawing attention from Nottingham Forest.
Should both midfielders leave the Etihad, City will seek to bring in two additional recruits on top of the potential acquisition of Morocco international Bouaddi.