Manchester City reject first Barcelona bid for Rodri

FC Barcelona have had a bid for Rodri rejected by Manchester City . The Spanish champions offered €45m (£38.7m) for Spain’s World Cup-winning captain, which City do not deem a serious price for the Ballon d’Or winner. No meaningful talks have taken place between the clubs yet with City reluctant to enter negotiations until there is the prospect of a deal near their valuation of the midfielder. Rodri, who has also attracted attention from Real Madrid, is in the last year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium and City risk losing him on a free transfer next summer. But they do not want to sell the 30-year-old, who won the Golden Ball after being named the best player in the World Cup, at a sizeable loss, after paying £62.6m for him in 2019 Rodri is currently out after undergoing minor back surgery but is expected to be fit soon. City have already spent £116m on a midfielder this summer , paying a record sum for a British player to buy Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. They are also interested in Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi but Lens could seek a package of around €100m for the teenager. Barcelona, who have bought wingers Anthony Gordon and Karim Adeyemi this summer and have pursued Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, turned their attentions to Rodri as midfielder Frenkie de Jong was ruled out with an ankle injury.