Man City reject £40m bid from Barcelona for Rodri

Manchester City will demand upwards of £60million if Barcelona are to complete a sensational move for Rodri this summer.Spain’s World Cup-winning captain has agreed terms with the Catalans ahead of the new season and is seeking a fresh challenge.Barca instigated talks between the clubs and are understood to have had a derisory bid of nearly £40m rejected.City have a history of allowing unhappy players to leave should the club’s valuation be met – and are standing firm in talks.Rodri had been in negotiations with Real Madrid but communicated to them earlier in the week that Barca represented his preferred destination and has agreed personal terms.While they are working on a transfer worth more than £80m for Lille teenager Ayyoub Bouaddi, City sources indicated that they are ready to land an experienced replacement for Rodri were he to depart. Barcelona have begun talks with Manchester City over a move for Spain’s World Cup winning captain Rodri Man City are set to demand upwards of £60m if Barcelona are to seal the sensational moveThe 2024 Ballon d’Or winner had remained coy over his future while away on international duty but is believed to have been open to a return to Spain once Pep Guardiola’s reign came to an end.Guardiola had suggested last season that Rodri would not return to his best until the World Cup, as he battled various injury problems after the devastating ACL injury sustained two years ago.Rodri underwent back surgery, revealed by Daily Mail Sport, immediately after lifting the World Cup.City have kept an offer of a new contract on the table for the 30-year-old, whose deal expires next summer, and he is scheduled to link up with Enzo Maresca’s squad next week.