'Ballon d'Or Winner·World Champion': Will the World-Class Midfielder of Manchester City Finally Leave? "Rejected 736 billion won offer... Confident in signing with Barcelona"

*This content was translated by AI.

Transfer negotiations between FC Barcelona (Spain) and Manchester City (England) over Rodri (30, Manchester City), who has won both the Ballon d'Or and the World Cup, are intensifying further. While Manchester City flatly rejected Barcelona's initial offer, even Enzo Maresca, Manchester City's manager, has spoken directly, indicating a tense standoff is unfolding.

British media 'The Standard' reported on the 10th (Korea time) that "Manchester City rejected Barcelona's first offer of 38.6 million pounds (approximately 736 billion won) for Rodri," adding that "Manchester City maintains a clear stance that it cannot even engage in formal club-to-club negotiations over an amount far below the 68.5 million pounds (approximately 130.7 billion won) they have set."

Nevertheless, Barcelona remains confident about securing Rodri's transfer. According to transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano and 'ESPN', Barcelona plans to submit a second offer with an increased amount soon. They view finalizing Rodri's acquisition as merely a matter of time.

Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner who led Spain to World Cup victory and was named the tournament's best player, was widely expected to join Real Madrid. However, Barcelona's entry into the race completely shifted the dynamics. Local reports indicate that Rodri strongly prefers joining Barcelona over Real Madrid and has conveyed his desire to join only Barcelona to Manchester City's side.

The background behind Rodri's insistence on a transfer involves both changes within his team and injury setbacks. With only one year remaining on his contract, Rodri is eager to return to La Liga this summer as Manchester City undergoes significant changes following the departure of manager Pep Guardiola. Barcelona has also identified Rodri as a replacement for Frenkie de Jong, who suffered a tear in the medial collateral ligament of his right knee in July and is confirmed to miss the early part of the 2026–2027 season.

Amid escalating transfer rumors, Manchester City's leadership also issued an official response. According to 'The Standard', when asked about Rodri's future during a press conference immediately after the friendly match (3-1 victory) against Atlético Madrid held in Seoul, manager Maresca stated, "Nothing has changed at this point. Rodri is scheduled to return to Manchester on the 14th. We will see him then," confirming his return ahead of the Community Shield.

Rodri, who underwent minor back surgery shortly after the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup and is recovering, is expected to return to the pitch by the end of this month. Having already strengthened their midfield with the signing of Elliot Anderson, Manchester City appears to be deeply concerned about whether they will lose Rodri, a key figure in their 2022–2023 UEFA Champions League (UCL) title win, alongside John Stones and Bernardo Silva.

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*This content was translated by AI.