Manchester City hold firm as Real Madrid face lengthy Rodri transfer talks

Real Madrid’s attempt to sign Rodri is proving far more difficult than the Spanish club expected, with Manchester City refusing to lower their €70m valuation for the Ballon d’Or winner, according to Catalan newspaper Sport.

Madrid had initially believed the deal, like their proposed move for Ousmane Diomande, would be straightforward. However, negotiations over both players have become increasingly complicated.

Sport reports that Manchester City are sticking firmly to their negotiating strategy and have set a price they have no intention of reducing. The English club are under no pressure to sell Rodri and would be prepared to keep him until his contract expires, even if that meant allowing him to leave for free in 2027.

City want €70m for the Spain midfielder, although they would accept part of the fee in the form of add-ons. The club are not expected to move 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,” Sport said.

“Barcelona previously found themselves in this situation with Eric Garcia, having to wait until he left as a free agent, while several attempts to sign Bernardo Silva were also rejected.”

Rodri has already asked to leave Manchester City and is now waiting for Real Madrid to meet the club’s financial demands. City believe their valuation is fair compensation for a player who has won the Ballon d’Or.

Real Madrid’s hierarchy had expected the transfer to be completed within 48 hours. According to Sport, they now recognise that the negotiations will take longer and that the outcome is no longer as certain as they had anticipated.

The Spanish club have reportedly reached a full understanding with Rodri, who is willing to do everything possible to complete the move. However, his strong personal relationship with Manchester City means he is approaching the negotiations carefully.

Rodri is also said to have believed that City’s valuation would be lower. Sport claims that Real Madrid’s urgency and their current squad requirements could ultimately jeopardise a transfer that had appeared close to completion.

City are meanwhile progressing with talks to sign Moroccan midfielder Ayoub Bouaddi from Lille. Bouaddi is described as one of the discoveries of the 2026 World Cup.

There is no final agreement for Bouaddi yet, but expectations are that he could sign in the coming weeks. His arrival would not necessarily be linked to Rodri’s departure, however. Instead, it could lead to Mateo Kovacic leaving, with the midfielder reportedly outside manager Enzo Maresca’s plans.

The developments underline the difference between Rodri’s position and the type of transfer Manchester City have accepted in the past. The club are willing to listen when a player seeks a move, but they continue to insist that an acceptable fee must be paid.

That stance has already affected Real Madrid’s pursuit of Rodri, with City prepared to risk losing him without a transfer fee in 2027 rather than compromise on their current demands.