Rodri is leaving Man City for Barcelona after seven seasons

[Scott98]

Manchester City have accepted a 65.4 million pound bid from Barcelona for Rodri, ending the World Cup winning midfielder and former Ballon d'Or holder's seven year spell at the club. The 30 year old had one year left on his contract, and while City wanted him to sign an extension and stay, Barcelona's third bid finally proved too good to turn down after two earlier offers of around 40 million and 55 million were both rejected. Rodri has agreed a four year deal with Barcelona.

Rodri missed City's 3-0 Community Shield defeat to Arsenal after only returning to training on the Friday before, following minor back surgery post World Cup. City boss Enzo Maresca said simply that all teams need a player like Rodri when asked about him afterward, which reads a bit different now knowing the transfer was already close to done.

City have already been busy reshaping their midfield this summer, breaking the British transfer record to sign Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest for 116 million pounds, and they remain interested in Chelsea's Enzo Fernandez and Lille's Ayyoub Bouaddi. City actually missed Chelsea's own self imposed Friday 5pm deadline to bid 120 million for Fernandez, though Sky Sports reports City may still try again now that Rodri's exit is confirmed, since the Rodri sale could help fund exactly that kind of move.

Adding to the midfield reshuffle, City have also agreed to sell Tijjani Reijnders. Who only joined from AC Milan last summer, to Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah for around 51 million pounds, with Reijnders reportedly the one pushing for the move himself.

Maresca has been vocal about wanting any new midfield additions in place quickly given the Premier League season starts in a week. Saying it's better for any new signing to start working with the squad as soon as possible so they understand how City want to play

Rodri transfer news: Man City accept bid from Barcelona for World Cup-winning midfielder and former Ballon d'Or holderwww.skysports.com

[Foundry69]

Anderson's transfer fee breaking the British record now reads very differently knowing Rodri was already on his way out. City clearly planning the succession well in advance of this actually being confirmed. That specific role is genuinely hard to replace

[Wizard72]

Barcelona getting their third bid finally accepted after two rejections shows real patience and persistence. Worth remembering the first bid was rejected as far too low before they eventually got there

[TheRizz96]

The timing with his back surgery is what stands out to me.

Missing the Community Shield after only just returning to training and then the transfer getting confirmed so soon after feels like City already knew this was coming

[Jess30]

Curious how City actually replace his specific defensive midfield role rather than just his raw quality. That positional discipline is a really different skill from a typical box to box or attacking midfielder

[Penguin79]

65.4 million for a 30 year old on the final year of his contract feels like decent business for City especially after knocking back two lower bids first. Worth remembering

[Neon Harper]

Missing Chelsea's own deadline for Fernandez and then potentially going back in now that Rodri money is freed up is a bit of a power move ignoring another club's self imposed deadline and coming back on your own terms.

Worth remembering

[Nomad]

The Reijnders sale happening at the same time is the more surprising one joining last summer and already off to Saudi Arabia after just one season is a quick turnaround.

Solid observation

[FrostBear]

Four teams needing a player like Rodri quote from Maresca is such a diplomatic non answer in hindsight.

Wonder if he already knew the deal was basically done when he said that

[Thomas_69]

Good roundup of a busy week for City's midfield business.

Feels like there's still more to come here given how much money is now moving around between Rodri, Reijnders, Anderson, and whatever eventually happens with Fernandez

[James_46]

Rodri's been arguably the most tactically important player in world football the last few years. City's midfield is going to look and function completely differently without him there as the deep lying anchor