Barcelona initiate official Rodri talks: Club confident despite Man City demanding over €45m – Romano

Barcelona initiate official Rodri talks: Club confident despite Man City demanding over €45m – Romano According to Fabrizio Romano , FC Barcelona have officially entered direct club-to-club negotiations with Manchester City to sign midfielder Rodri. The Catalan club’s management has moved quickly to initiate these formal discussions and has expressed high confidence in their ability to successfully close a deal for the 30-year-old Spain international at the earliest possible. Financial Negotiations and pricing gaps The entry into official club-to-club talks represents a major step forward for Barcelona, who are looking to find a top-level solution for their midfield following a long-term knee injury to Frenkie de Jong. Initial indications from the Camp Nou board show that Barcelona are open to paying a transfer fee slightly over €45 million to secure the defensive anchor this summer. Official talks underway. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) However, Manchester City’s directors are pushing for a higher price during the direct discussions. Because Rodri has entered the final 12 months of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, City are under pressure to reach an agreement now or risk losing him on a free transfer next year. While City had previously established a baseline valuation closer to €70 million in separate discussions with Real Madrid, Barcelona are trying to find a financial compromise that fits within their current La Liga salary cap limits. Rodri wants Barcelona A major factor driving Barcelona’s immense confidence in the boardroom negotiations is the personal stance of the midfielder himself. Rodri has informed his camp and both clubs that he wants a move to Barcelona. Contract terms agreed. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) Although the Madrid-born player had previously reached a verbal agreement on personal terms with Real Madrid days ago, the late intervention from Barcelona has completely altered his plans. Several of Rodri’s teammates from the Spanish national team who currently play for Barcelona have been talking to him regularly, successfully convincing him to choose Hansi Flick’s project instead. Rodri has now agreed terms over a four-year contract with Barcelona, with an annual gross salary of €30 million . He is now waiting on the two clubs to find a final compromise on the transfer fee so he can travel to Spain to complete his medical tests.