Pep Guardiola is no longer Barcelona’s link to Manchester City. The two clubs have completed several transfers in the past, but when it comes to the World Cup’s best player, City don’t care that they risk Rodri disappearing without any sales income at the end of his contract next summer.
Barcelona and Rodri are said to agree, the Real Madrid management is sizzling at missing out on the signing they have been waiting for for several years, while the City management is playing hardball in the negotiating room.
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Former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who again played to Ballon d’Or level at the World Cup, has seen Barcelona fire off the first bid of £38.5 million – only to be rejected. Now Sky Sports reports the La Liga giant has jacked up his bid to around £55 million for the player who has ten months left on his contract.
Sky Sports also reports this has been rejected.
The City management knows they are in a strong position, where Barcelona will secure Rodri ahead of Real Madrid. Bids of as much as £60-70 million are expected for the gate at the Etihad Stadium to open.
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This is anything but a done deal for Barcelona, who will struggle hard to manoeuvre themselves to be able to bear this expense as well as make Rodri one of the club’s highest paid.
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