Manchester City midfielder Rodri's contract situation has caught the attention of Barcelona, who are eyeing a potential transfer. The Catalan club have informed Manchester City of their interest and are ready to act if Rodri's move to Real Madrid falls through.
What happened?
FC Barcelona are closely following the situation surrounding Rodri, with the club ready to act if the Manchester City midfielder's expected move to Real Madrid falls through, reports AS. While Real Madrid remain the frontrunners to sign the Spanish international, the Blaugrana have positioned themselves to take advantage of any unexpected twist in negotiations involving the player, Manchester City and their domestic rivals.
Why it matters for Manchester City
Rodri has less than one year remaining on his contract and has already expressed his desire to return to Spain after turning 30. The Manchester City midfielder has been a key player for the Premier League heavyweights, helping them secure a 2nd-place finish in the 2025 table with 78 points from 38 games, recent form LDWWD.
What comes next?
Real Madrid are still considered the favourites, although the Premier League heavyweights' financial demands have caused hesitation in the Spanish capital. Barcelona have made it clear that if Manchester City decide to negotiate Rodri's departure, they also want the chance to enter the conversation.
Manchester City are currently 7 points behind leaders Arsenal in the title race and have scored 77 goals this season, conceding 35. The club's next fixture is against Ipswich on October 17, 2026, at home.
Rodri is currently sidelined, and his return to the pitch is uncertain. The Manchester City midfielder has been a key player for the Premier League heavyweights, and his departure would be a significant blow to the team.
Barcelona's interest in Rodri appears to contrast with their current transfer priorities. The club's main objective remains signing a new centre-forward, with Julian Alvarez being the primary target, while the midfield is generally viewed as well stocked despite De Jong's injury.
Even so, the Catalan club believe a player of Rodri's calibre is too significant to ignore if circumstances change this summer.
Speaking about a possible reinforcement in midfield earlier today, manager Hansi Flick said: "We're always thinking about improving the team and what's best for it. But at the moment, I think we have a lot of midfielders. That's the situation. We'll see what happens over the next few weeks."
For now, Barcelona remain a secondary player in the race for Rodri. The Catalans are not leading negotiations and are unlikely to make an immediate move for the World Cup winner.
But executives are monitoring developments closely and have asked to be kept in the loop in case talks between Manchester City and Real Madrid break down.
