Rodri has emerged as one of the defining figures of the 2026 summer transfer window, with FC Barcelona aggressively pursuing his signature as the 2026-27 season approaches. While Manchester City and the Blaugrana have yet to reach a final agreement, head coach Enzo Maresca stated that the Spanish midfielder will report back to the Citizens as scheduled.
Last week, Rodri’s representative disclosed that the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball winner elected to join Barcelona despite receiving an ‘unrefusable’ offer from Real Madrid. Now, the remaining hurdle is for the Catalan club to reach a financial compromise that satisfies Manchester City’s valuation before his contract enters its final year.
Following Manchester City‘s 3-1 preseason victory over Atletico Madrid in Seoul, South Korea, manager Enzo Maresca was asked whether he expects Rodri to rejoin the squad ahead of the upcoming campaign: “Yes, as of right now, he will report in Manchester on Wednesday. There are no further updates to report.”
Since anchoring Spain’s midfield during their World Cup title run ending on July 19, Rodri has not rejoined squad activities. As the team prepared to depart Asia for Manchester, Maresca later clarified the player’s reporting timeline. “On the 14th, he will be back,” the Italian manager confirmed.
The Citizens kick off their competitive season in high-stakes fashion, facing Arsenal in the Community Shield on Sunday, August 16, in Cardiff, Wales. Joining his teammates just two days prior to kickoff, Rodri is unlikely to feature against the Gunners as he holds out hope of finalizing his move to Barcelona.
Where negotiations stand between Barcelona and Manchester City
While Real Madrid pursued Rodri following the World Cup, the opportunity to return to Spain with Barcelona proved to be the decisive factor for the former Atletico Madrid star. Personal terms between the player and Barcelona are fully finalized, leaving the two clubs to negotiate a final transfer fee.
According to Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, Manchester City initially sought a fee between €70 million and €80 million, though talks have gravitated toward a package worth roughly €55 million (around $60 million USD) plus performance-based add-ons. Structuring the deal could potentially involve a Barcelona player moving in the opposite direction to push negotiations into the final stretch.
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick hopes to integrate Rodri into squad training next week alongside returning World Cup stars Lamine Yamal and Pedri, who report back on Wednesday. The immediate priority will be preparing for the La Liga opener in two weeks, with Rodri expected to slide directly into the starting lineup.
