Barcelona's Pursuit of Rodri: City's Plans for Enzo Replacement
Barcelona have moved decisively for Rodri, and there is no hiding it now. A third bid has gone in to Manchester City for the Spain midfielder, as the Catalan club keep edging the offer higher in a bid to break the deadlock.
The latest proposal takes the guaranteed fee to 70 million euros. Barcelona first came to the table at around 45 million, then returned with a second bid close to 65 million. Each time City said no. Each time Barça came back stronger.
Now, there is growing confidence at the Camp Nou that this one can be closed out by the weekend. The feeling in Manchester is similar: both clubs expect these talks to end in an agreement, not another stalemate.
For City, the logic is clear. Cashing in on Rodri would ease the pressure of Financial Fair Play and open up room to move for his successor. The sale would not just be about a big fee, but about flexibility — the chance to reshape a midfield and reinvest quickly.
Enzo at the heart of City’s next move
That is where Enzo comes in. The Argentine remains the preferred option to step into the gap at the Etihad. The deadline Chelsea set for his departure has passed, but the saga is not closing with it.
New City manager Enzo Maresca, who worked with Enzo at Chelsea, drew a firm line on Friday. He made it clear City will not be dragged into any artificial race against the clock set by his former club.
Chelsea, for their part, have fired back with a message of their own: they control the situation. Enzo is under contract until 2032, and the London club want everyone to understand they hold the power over his future.
City are not walking away. They are simply waiting. The Premier League champions intend to see how the Rodri deal plays out before making their next move for Enzo. Only once they know exactly what they can spend will they go back to Stamford Bridge.
Talks in the shadows, stance in the spotlight
Behind the scenes, the contact has not stopped. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, City’s hierarchy have stayed in regular touch with Enzo’s representatives in recent days, keeping the line warm while the Rodri negotiations unfold.
So the picture is familiar, yet subtly different. City still want Enzo. That has not shifted. What has changed is Chelsea’s posture. On Friday, they briefly opened a door, outlining clear conditions for a departure that almost resembled a release clause.
That door is no longer ajar in the same way. City now face a different kind of negotiation, one without the comfort of a pre-defined escape route.
The champions must decide how far they are prepared to go. How much are they willing to pay to force open the doors of Stamford Bridge and secure the Argentine at the heart of Maresca’s new project?
