Real Madrid’s attempt to sign Rodri is proving far more complicated than the Spanish club expected, with Manchester City standing by their €70m valuation of the Ballon d’Or winner, according to Catalan newspaper Sport.
The report says Real initially believed the transfer, like their proposed move for Diomande, would be straightforward. However, both deals have encountered significant obstacles, with City refusing to soften their position during discussions over Rodri.
Manchester City are under no financial pressure to sell the midfielder and would be prepared to keep him until his contract expires and he leaves as a free agent in 2027. Their demand is €70m, although part of that fee could be made up of performance-related add-ons.
According to Sport, the English club have no intention of moving away from that figure.
“Manchester City’s strategy in sales has always been clear: any player who wants to leave is allowed to do so, but only if the financial offer is satisfactory for the club,” the newspaper reported.
Barcelona previously encountered a similar situation when trying to sign Eric Garcia from Manchester City. The Spanish club ultimately had to wait until the defender left on a free transfer, while several attempts to sign Bernardo Silva were also rejected.
Rodri has already taken the step of asking to leave Manchester City and is now waiting for Real Madrid to meet the Premier League club’s financial demands. City regard their valuation as fair compensation for a player who has won the Ballon d’Or.
Real Madrid’s hierarchy had initially expected the transfer to be concluded within 48 hours. However, the club now recognises that negotiations are likely to take considerably longer and that the outcome is no longer as certain as it first appeared, Sport added.
Rodri is understood to have reached a full agreement with Real Madrid and is ready to do everything possible to complete the move. Even so, his close relationship with Manchester City has encouraged him to approach the negotiations carefully.
The midfielder had reportedly expected City’s valuation to be lower. Sport believes Real Madrid’s urgency and their current needs could ultimately undermine a transfer that had appeared close to completion.
City continue talks for Bouaddi
At the same time, Manchester City are progressing with negotiations to sign Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi from Lille. The player is described as one of the discoveries of the 2026 World Cup.
No final agreement has been reached so far, although expectations are that Bouaddi could sign in the coming weeks.
His arrival would not, however, signal Rodri’s departure. Instead, it would be Mateo Kovacic who leaves, with the midfielder reportedly outside the plans of manager Enzo Maresca.
Manchester City’s approach remains consistent: players who want to move on can do so, but only when the club receives an offer it considers acceptable. That policy has now left Real Madrid facing a much more demanding process to secure Rodri’s signature.
