According to Marca, Barcelona and Rodri originally planned to finalize the transfer by next Friday, but the two clubs still have disagreements on financial terms, causing the deal to drag on longer than expected. Barcelona is pushing hard, hoping to reach an agreement with Manchester City within 48 hours, but those involved in the negotiations are already starting to doubt if it can be completed on schedule.
Barcelona is confident that Rodri will wear the Blaugrana jersey in the 26-27 season and is also very confident about the transfer itself, believing that the deal can be finalized this week. However, no Barcelona executive currently dares to guarantee completion within 48 hours, lest the Spanish international return to Manchester City's training camp first. Maresca had said a few days ago: "For now, he will be in Manchester on Friday."
Negotiations are still progressing, and contact between the two sides is constant. The agreement between Barcelona and Rodri was actually reached a few days ago, but disagreements over financial details are still delaying the process. Barcelona offered 50 million euros a few days ago for the Spanish midfielder, who has one year left on his contract, but this was rejected. The Premier League team is asking for around 70 million, and both sides are trying to narrow the gap and make concessions on some terms. Barcelona hopes to ultimately set the price between 60 and 65 million euros, plus some variable clauses. Communication between the two clubs is smooth, and the atmosphere is good.
Rodri is aware
Barcelona does not rule out reaching an agreement within the next 48 hours, but it is unlikely today, and Barcelona executives already feel that time is very tight. The 30-year-old Madrid midfielder is aware of the details of the deal and knows that he will likely move to Manchester, where he has played for Manchester City since 2019.
Currently, it is unlikely that Manchester City and Rodri will reach an agreement at the same time, unlike Barcelona and Ferran: the Valencia forward requested not to return to Barcelona training today, as he is finalizing his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain. However, if the deal has progressed as deeply as hoped in the Barcelona offices by then, even if he hasn't passed his Barcelona medical, it is not impossible that he would not train with Maresca; everything depends on the progress of negotiations in the coming hours. Both sides are racing against time.
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