Barcelona has reached an agreement to sign midfielder Rodri from Manchester City for a fee reported to be around £65.4 million, as the Catalan club sought to bolster their squad ahead of the new season. The deal was in its final stages as of Saturday evening, with Rodri absent from Manchester City’s preseason camp in Cardiff.
Manchester City’s interim head coach, Enzo Maresca, emphasized the caliber of the player, describing Rodri as a World Cup winner and Ballon d’Or recipient. “He’s a top player, all teams need a player like Rodri,” Maresca said prior to confirmation of the agreement, highlighting the significance of losing such a central figure in midfield.
The transfer comes amid concerns over Manchester City’s midfield depth, which were underscored in their 3-0 defeat by Arsenal in the Community Shield held on Friday. The loss, and the early goal conceded within the opening minute, exposed vulnerabilities that City aims to address as they prepare for their Premier League opener against Brighton on Sunday.
In parallel, Manchester City are close to securing a signing from Lille, with Moroccan midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi reportedly nearing completion of his transfer to the English club. Bouaddi, 18, appeared on Lille’s bench during their recent pre-season friendly at Everton. While negotiations have advanced, Bouaddi remains a Lille player for the time being. Maresca stressed the importance of early arrivals for new signings to adapt to City’s style ahead of the season.
Despite speculation linking Manchester City with Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, no formal bid has been lodged by City's representatives, and the Friday deadline for a £120 million offer passed without further developments.
Meanwhile, City defender Tijjani Reijnders is set to join Saudi Arabian club Al Qadsiah for approximately £52 million after only a single season with the team. Maresca acknowledged the necessity of further transfer business if City are to remain competitive in top-tier competitions throughout the campaign.
During the Community Shield match, several young players including Elliot Anderson, Nico O’Reilly, Jeremy Doku, and star striker Erling Haaland started despite recently returning to training midweek. Maresca defended the decision to start these players, noting plans to substitute them within the first hour to manage their fitness. He described the overall team performance as “not switched on,” criticizing the sluggish start and overall display.
Captain Ruben Dias expressed frustration following the defeat but urged the squad to focus on moving forward. “Many things are changing, a new manager as well. If there is a lesson to be learned in a final, let it be this one because there are a lot more coming,” Dias said. “The most important thing is we’re already looking forward and we’ll be ready for our next game.”