Sports

Barcelona reach €76.5m Rodri transfer agreement in principle with Manchester City

Published

2 hours ago

August 16, 2026

Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle worth €76.5million (£65.3m; $87.8m) with Manchester City for the transfer of Rodri.

City will receive an upfront fee of €60million (£51.2m; $68.8m) for the central midfielder with the majority of the add-ons viewed as achievable.

Personal terms are not expected to be an issue for the Spain international, who starred in his nation’s World Cup success this summer, with a four-year contract proposed by champions of La Liga.

Barcelona made an offer of around €45million (£38.6m; $52.1m) plus add-ons for Rodri on August 7. The Spanish champions had been made aware that City would want close to €80m to sanction his exit.

The Athletic reported on August 6 that Barcelona were exploring a deal for Rodri, and the 30-year-old preferred a move to Camp Nou over any other club. Real Madrid had also been exploring a move for the Spain captain this summer.

Rodri has entered the final 12 months of his City contract and has not shown a willingness to extend his terms.

A move to Barcelona would see the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner join up with seven members of Spain’s 2026 World Cup winning squad: Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, Pau Cubarsi, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal. Rodri was awarded the Golden Ball following his performances at the tournament.

Hansi Flick’s side will be without fellow midfielder Frenkie de Jong for a lengthy spell due to a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee.

City, meanwhile, signed England midfielder Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest in a £116million ($155m) deal in July. The Athletic reported on July 14 they were also pushing to sign Morocco international Ayyoub Bouaddi, 18, from Lille, who impressed at the World Cup.

Rodri moved to City from Atletico in 2019 and has won four Premier League titles, the FA Cup twice, the League Cup on three occasions and the Champions League, scoring the winning goal in the 2023 final. He has made 298 appearances for the club, providing 28 goals and 32 assists.

Sports

GB's Hunter-Bell comfortably wins 'serene, beautiful' 1500m gold

Published

3 minutes ago

August 16, 2026

qasimgillani

Georgia Hunter-Bell wins convincingly in the women’s 1500m to take gold for Great Britain, making herself uncatchable on the final stretch.

Sports

Sebastian Pocognoli: What awaits Belgian as new Scotland boss?

Published

10 minutes ago

August 16, 2026

qasimgillani

Pocognoli’s prior experience of working as a youth coach at international level with Belgium would have ticked another box for the SFA. He also coached in the academies of USG and Genk.

During his playing career, he featured at almost every youth level for his nation before winning 13 caps for a side that has produced a long list of world-class talents for well over a decade.

Scotland have had their own mini golden generation, with captain Andy Robertson, John McGinn, Scott McTominay and others all continuing to play at Europe’s top level.

Clarke was emphatic in his exit interview with the SFA, saying the core he developed over his seven-year spell is “not finished yet”.

Many of Scotland’s World Cup squad, which was one of the oldest at the tournament, will go again for a Euros they are co-hosting in two years, but Pocognoli will be tasked with hitting the refresh button.

Much has been made of a potential crisis within youth development in Scottish football, which raises concerns about the future of the national team.

For now, Ben Gannon-Doak, 20, has become a Scotland regular over the past couple of years, while Findlay Curtis, 19, made two late cameos at the World Cup.

Tyler Fletcher was taken to the United States but did not feature. It remains to be seen his status will rise under Pocognoli or if fellow teenage midfielder Lennon Miller will be brought back into the fold.

Kieron Bowie, 23, also missed the cut but the striker will be playing in Serie A along with Miller next season.

Fans will expect to see striker Robbie Ure after a free-scoring spell with Sirius in Sweden resulted in a move to La Liga side Sevilla earlier this month.

The 22-year-old has fuelled the Tartan Army with hope that he can provide cutting edge at the top end of the pitch, something they have craved for some time.