Rodri only wants to go to Barcelona: Romano confirms new offer to be delivered soon, is Manchester City's green light countdown on?

The 2026 summer transfer window in European football is set to witness a mega deal that could redefine the balance of power. Fabrizio Romano, the well-known transfer guru, reveals that Barcelona are optimistic about landing Rodri, Manchester City's midfield linchpin, and are preparing a fresh bid for the Sky Blues. What's more, Rodri has openly told City that his sole wish is to move to Camp Nou.

Player's will becomes the decisive factor; Rodri is determined to head to Camp Nou.

In this high-stakes game involving top clubs, the player's personal desire has become Barcelona's greatest strength. Romano emphasized in his latest podcast that the hardest step of this transfer has actually been completed. Rodri not only communicated directly with Barcelona's sporting director Deco and coach Flick but also made it clear to Manchester City's hierarchy in a very professional and respectful manner: "I want to go to Barcelona, I only want to wear the Barcelona shirt."

Rodri's decision has a clear internal logic. As one of the world's top defensive midfielders, he knows that Barcelona's continued possession-based style perfectly matches his technical attributes. It's almost like a replication of the Spanish national team at Barcelona, so he wouldn't need a long tactical adaptation period. Moreover, midfielders like Pedri and Gavi are his national teammates, providing natural chemistry that other top clubs cannot offer. Additionally, according to Diario Sport, Real Madrid's previous inflated offer of €150 million for Álvarez actually made Rodri see the situation clearly and strengthened his determination to return to La Liga and join Barcelona.

Barcelona's new offer is imminent; the transfer fee becomes the sole focus.

Although Barcelona are confident about the deal, Manchester City's stance remains the key to whether the transfer can materialize. It is reported that Barcelona previously submitted an initial offer of €45 million fixed plus €5 million in add-ons, but this amount clearly fell short of City's expectations and was rejected by the Citizens.

However, Barcelona's management has not been shaken. They had anticipated that the first bid would be rejected as a routine step and considered it a probing contact. Romano confirms that Barcelona is actively preparing a new offer with a higher amount and more sincerity, which will be formally delivered to Manchester City in the coming days. Currently, the top officials of both clubs have started direct communication, and the negotiations are entirely focused on finalizing the transfer fee.

Manchester City faces realistic considerations; a replacement plan may already be in place.

Faced with Rodri's clear desire to leave, Manchester City, although reluctant to let go of their seven-year midfield cornerstone, has begun to seriously evaluate the feasibility of the deal. Rodri's contract expires in 2027. If they refuse to sell this summer, they would face the double loss of a key player leaving for free next summer and zero transfer income. Moreover, keeping a player against his will often leads to a lose-lose situation.

Meanwhile, Manchester City are not unprepared in the transfer market. They have already signed Nottingham Forest's English midfielder Elliot Anderson this summer. The arrival of this young midfielder provides a tactical buffer to some extent for Rodri's potential departure.

With Rodri's personal intention fully clear and Barcelona's new offer about to be submitted, this high-profile blockbuster transfer has entered the final sprint. As long as the two sides find a balance on the transfer fee, the 30-year-old Spanish midfield superstar is very likely to wear the Blaugrana shirt in the new season, starting a new chapter in his career.

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