Man City accept Barcelona Rodri bid

Man City have accepted a \u00a365.4m bid from Barcelona for their star midfielder Rodri. <p>The Spain World Cup winner and former Ballon d'Or holder, who helped City to four Premier League titles and a Champions League triumph, will now head to Barcelona to complete his transfer after seven seasons in Manchester.</p><p>The 30-year-old had one year left on his contract and while Man City wanted him to stay and sign an extension, Barcelona's third offer proved to be too good to turn down. He has agreed a four-year deal with Barcelona.</p><widget id="8"></widget><p>Last week <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/13570585/rodri-transfer-news-man-city-reject-initial-barcelona-off-for-spain-midfielder-with-bid-considered-far-too-low">Barcelona had an initial offer in the region of \u00a340m knocked back</a>, returning with <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11679/13567985/rodri-transfer-news-man-city-reject-lb55m-bid-from-barcelona-for-world-cup-winning-midfielder">a \u00a355m bid</a>, which was also rejected.</p> <widget id="4"></widget><ul><li><!--ScriptorStartFragment--><strong><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/TransfersSkySportsApp">Transfer Centre LIVE!</a> | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/ManCityblogarticles">Man City news & transfers</a>\ud83d\udd35</strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/manchester-city-scores-fixtures">Man City fixtures & scores</a> | <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/FreePLHighlightsFirst">FREE Man City highlights</a>\u25b6\ufe0f</strong></li><li><strong>Got Sky? <a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/WatchPremarticles">Watch Premier League games LIVE on your phone</a>\ud83d\udcf1</strong></li><li><strong>Not got Sky? <a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">Latest Sky Sports deals</a> or <a href="https://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports/football/premier-league?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink">stream PL games with no contract</a>\ud83d\udcfa</strong><!--ScriptorEndFragment--></li></ul><p>City boss<strong> Enzo Maresca </strong>said "All teams need a player like Rodri" when asked about the player after the <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/arsenal-vs-manchester-city/report/556659">3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal</a> on Sunday, which Rodri missed after only returning to the club's training ground on Friday, following minor surgery on his back after the World Cup.</p> <widget id="3"></widget><p><!--ScriptorEndFragment--></p><p>Maresca also encouraged City to move quickly for their transfer targets. They hold interest in <strong>Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi </strong>and <strong>Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez </strong>- although City missed Chelsea's Friday 5pm deadline to make a \u00a3120m bid for Fernandez.</p><p>Asked about Bouaddi, Maresca said: "He's still a Lille player. But any new signing, any new player, for sure as soon as they arrive it's better. Because we're going to start the Premier League in one week. If they start to work with us as soon as possible, it's better if they can also understand the way we need to play."</p> <widget id="6"></widget><p>Central midfield is in focus this summer at Man City. They broke the British transfer record to sign <strong>Elliot Anderson </strong>from <strong>Nottingham Forest </strong>for \u00a3116m.</p><p>Meanwhile, City have agreed a deal to sell <strong>Tijjani Reijnders </strong>to <strong>Al Qadsiah</strong>. The fee is around \u00a351m.</p><p>Reijnders, who joined City from AC Milan last summer, wants to move and now looks set for the Saudi Pro League.</p> <widget id="7"></widget><h3>Could Rodri sale help fund Fernandez move?</h3><p>Chelsea expect Fernandez to stay at Stamford Bridge for the entirety of the 2026/27 season after City missed Friday's deadline, which was set by Chelsea.</p><p>However, that doesn't mean City won't try to bid for the Argentina international now Rodri's move to Barcelona has been agreed.</p><p>"This was a deadline Chelsea imposed themselves and Man City were unlikely to play ball with a club imposing their own transfer deadlines," explained <em>Sky Sports News' </em>Alan Irwin on Friday.</p><p>"City boss Enzo Maresca is a big admirer of Enzo Fernandez. He understands exactly what he could bring to the club. But if the transfer is to come off is very much dependent on if Rodri leaves Man City for Barcelona."</p> <widget id="5"></widget>