Rodri's Future Hangs on Next Week's Maresca Meeting
Next week is shaping up to be the moment of truth for Rodri's future at Manchester City. The Ballon d'Or-winning midfielder is expected to sit down with Enzo Maresca when he returns to the club early next week, with reports suggesting Barcelona have already made their move to sign him.
Ben Jacobs has reported that Rodri will hold talks over his future with the City manager in the coming days. Pol Ballús and Mario Cortegana of The Athletic have added that Barcelona are exploring the possibility of signing the midfielder, having held talks with his camp, and that Rodri's preference is to join the Catalan club rather than Real Madrid.
Fabrizio Romano goes further, claiming Rodri has already agreed personal terms with Barcelona, with negotiations between the clubs said to be imminent. Barcelona, according to Romano, want to get a deal done as soon as possible.
The constant rumours linking City's midfield general with a move to Real Madrid have been relentless since the World Cup ended. Now it looks like Barcelona are the front-runners. Rodri himself believes that Barcelona's playing style, coupled with the fact that eight members of Spain's World Cup squad play there, would make for a smooth transition.
Rodri is currently on holiday after his efforts for Spain at the World Cup, and has yet to formally declare his intentions. But with so much smoke, it's hard to dismiss the move as mere speculation.
Jacobs reports that City are relaxed about the situation. Even if Rodri doesn't leave this summer, the club aren't concerned about losing him for free when his contract expires next summer. That's a confident position, and perhaps the right one, given the circumstances.
The one significant obstacle remains money. It remains to be seen whether Barcelona, with their well-documented financial constraints, could afford City's asking price for one of the world's best midfielders.
If Rodri tells Maresca he wants to leave, the speculation finally has a resolution: it will be up to Barcelona to submit a suitable offer, or City will simply keep hold of him for the final year of his contract. The sooner that clarity arrives, the better for all parties. Next week looks likely to provide it, allowing City to plan for a future either with or without their midfield anchor.