Barcelona Closing in on 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 progressing slowly due to a disagreement over financial compensation, as Rodri, 30, is required to return to Manchester tomorrow, Friday, August 14, to join the team's training under Enzo Maresca.

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

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

Rodri's contract with Manchester City runs until June 2027, but the English club is aware that the Spanish midfielder has already given his consent to move to Barcelona. The Catalan club is determined to finalize the deal.

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

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