Barcelona Close to Securing Rodri Deal

Barcelona continues its efforts to finalize the transfer of Spanish midfielder Rodri from Manchester City, with assurances from the Catalan club to the player that his move to Camp Nou will ultimately happen, despite ongoing negotiations between the two clubs.

According to Matteo Morito from Marca, the financial gap between Barcelona's demands and Manchester City's offer has become limited, currently standing at around €5 million, which enhances the Catalan club's confidence in the possibility of closing the deal soon.

However, negotiations are still moving at a slow pace due to disagreements over the financial compensation. Rodri, who is 30 years old, is expected to return to Manchester tomorrow, Friday, August 14, to join the team's training under the guidance of Enzo Maresca.

The Times has reported that Manchester City is asking for a fixed fee between €65 and €70 million, while Barcelona's latest offer reached €65 million including variables.

Despite this difference, Barcelona is confident in its ability to reach an agreement, especially since the club's officials do not consider the current financial gap an insurmountable obstacle, even if the deal will cost the club more than initially expected.

Rodri's contract with Manchester City expires in June 2027, but the English club is aware that the Spanish midfielder has already given his consent to move to Barcelona. They also know that the Catalan club is keen on finalizing the deal.

Enzo Maresca has clearly stated Rodri's position, confirming that the player will be in Manchester on Friday, awaiting the outcome of negotiations in the coming hours.

It seems that Rodri will have to travel to England and return to Manchester City's training temporarily, before packing his bags again, but this time heading towards Barcelona, according to the message conveyed to him by the Catalan club.

Barcelona's financial calculations are not limited to the Rodri deal alone. The club also needs to secure the necessary funds to finance the signing of Enzo Fernandez, the Chelsea player.

Chelsea has shown readiness to wait until noon on Friday to receive Barcelona's offer for the player.

As Rodri prepares for his return to Manchester, his situation remains different from that of Enzo Fernandez. However, the message he received from Barcelona seems clear: the deal will eventually go through, despite the slow negotiations and high costs.