Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca has confirmed that Rodri is expected to remain with the club and return to Manchester ahead of the Community Shield clash with Arsenal, following City's rejection of a substantial offer from Barcelona for the Spanish midfielder.
Barcelona reportedly tabled a bid worth €45million (£38.5m) for the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner earlier this week, but City turned down the proposal. The 30-year-old, who is entering the final year of his current contract at the Etihad Stadium, has also attracted attention from Real Madrid, Barcelona's fierce domestic rivals. Despite the interest from both Spanish giants, City's stance remains firm: they will not consider parting with their prized midfielder unless a fee in the region of £68.5m is put on the table.
Speaking after City's 3-1 victory over Atletico Madrid in Seoul on Sunday, Maresca addressed questions about Rodri's situation and whether there had been any fresh communication from the club's director of football, Hugo Viana, regarding the midfielder's future.
"Yes, at the moment he will be in Manchester," Maresca stated. "There is no update... On August 14 he will be back."
The comments suggest that, for now, City are confident of holding onto one of the most influential midfielders in world football, despite the swirling transfer speculation. Rodri's importance to both club and country has been evident in recent seasons, and his contract situation had fuelled talk of a potential departure this summer. However, Maresca's remarks indicate that the club expects business as usual when the squad reconvenes in Manchester before the Community Shield showdown against Arsenal next weekend.
On the pitch, City's pre-season tour continued positively with a comeback win over Atletico Madrid in South Korea. Maresca's side found themselves behind at the break after Jorge Dominguez put the Spanish side ahead in the 43rd minute. However, City responded emphatically in the second half.
Omar Marmoush was the catalyst for the turnaround, scoring twice in quick succession to flip the scoreline in City's favor. The first of his goals came from an impressive assist by Antoine Semenyo, showcasing the kind of link-up play City will be hoping to build on ahead of the new season. Rayan Ait-Nouri then sealed the victory late on, adding a third goal to complete the 3-1 comeback win.
The result will provide City with confidence as they prepare for a busy period of fixtures, starting with the Community Shield against Arsenal on August 14. The return of Rodri to the squad, assuming no late change in circumstances, will be a significant boost for Maresca as he continues to shape his tactical approach with the Spanish international expected to remain a key figure in midfield.
While the transfer saga surrounding Rodri may not be entirely closed given the reported interest from both Barcelona and Real Madrid, City's current position leaves little room for negotiation below their valuation. For now, all indications point toward the midfielder continuing his career at the Etihad Stadium, at least in the short term, as City look to build on their pre-season form heading into a new campaign that will include high-profile fixtures against Arsenal and beyond.
Based on reporting from standard-football.