Rodri is desperately hoping Barcelona can agree a fee with Manchester City by Friday so that he does not have to return to England. The 30-year-old has his heart set on a move to Camp Nou after opting to join the defending La Liga champions and snub interest from their arch-rivals Real Madrid.Rodri is believed to be house hunting in Catalonia but is expected back at the Etihad Training Campus on Friday to enable City medics to assess his fitness following a minor back operation.Spains World Cup-winning captain would rather remain in Barcelona and avoid a trip back to Manchester but that depends on whether the two clubs can agree a fee.Barca have offered around �43million for the former Atletico Madrid midfielder but City are holding out for nearer �60m even though he has now entered the final year of his contract.Reports in Spain suggest the two clubs will likely settle for a fee somewhere in the middle although City are acutely aware of Barcas need to get the deal done after president Joan Laporta publicly announced the club had agreed personal terms with the player.Rodri a priority for Barcelona as Real Madrid strengthenRodris signing is seen as key for the Catalans if they want to retain the title they have won in each of the past two seasons, and especially with Real Madrid likely to be revitalised following the return of Jose Mourinho as coach and a summer of heavy recruitment at the Santiago Bernabeu.Madrid have brought in the likes of Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konate, Marc Cucurella and club-record signing Yan Diomande as well as renewing winger Vinicius Jr on a new, long-term contract.Barca have been quiet in comparison with Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi their only major acquisitions.They are also waiting on news of midfielder Frenkie De Jongs knee injury with reports suggesting the club are getting increasingly frustrated with the Netherlands international.De Jong returned from the World Cup with a partial tear of a meniscus cruciate ligament but wants it to heal with rest and rehabilitation. Barca, though, want him to undergo surgery as they feel that would lead to a quicker recovery period.That has led to an uncomfortable stand-off with De Jongs method showing little sign of progress. Topics FC Barcelona Manchester City F.C. Real Madrid CF Rodri Add us as a preferred source on Google If you enjoy reading this article, you can help support our independent football journalism by adding 101 Great Goals as a preferred source You Should Also Read Deportivo vs Real Madrid: Expected line-ups, where to watch, stats and preview as Los Blancos continue pre-season preparations Mitch Fretton 12th August, 2026 Emery: Dont compare Villa with Man City, Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool or Arsenal Ben Miller 11th August, 2026 Vitinha votes for outsider trio as Ballon dOr winners: It would be normal Ben Miller 11th August, 2026 What were they smoking? Former Chelsea star Mikel mocks Arsenal fans for thinking they could sign Vinicius Jr Jon Fisher 11th August, 2026 Why has the Community Shield between Manchester City and Arsenal been switched from Wembley to Cardiff? Jon Fisher 11th August, 2026 Manchester City: Season preview, ins and outs, one to watch and prediction can Enzo Maresca bring the title back to the Etihad? Mitch Fretton 10th August, 2026
