Fabrizio Romano transfer news: Rodri to Barcelona, Enzo deadline ignored, Cancelo deal

17 Aug 2026 06:39 BST | 7 min read

Fabrizio Romano, Rodri, Enzo Fernandez — © IMAGO

Robin Bairner | Chief Editor

Accredited football journalist and editor covering the game since 2006

Make us your Google favourite

Fabrizio Romano reveals Rodri and Joao Cancelo are heading to Barcelona, while Man City remain interested in Enzo Fernandez and Ayyoub Bouaddi.

Article continues under the video

Rodri to Barcelona is a ‘here we go’ as Man City agree €70m deal

Fabrizio Romano confirms Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Manchester City for Rodri, with the midfielder set to become one of the biggest signings in the club's recent history.

“Rodri to Barcelona is a here we go. The deal is done for one of the most important players in the last 15 years of football, because we are talking about the Ballon d'Or, because we are talking about the best player of the last World Cup, because we are talking about a World Cup winner, because we are talking about a Euros winner, because we are talking about the man who won everything at Manchester City,” Romano told his YouTube channel.

“When there are these kind of players who are really, really important legends of the club, if they decide to go, it's almost impossible to stop them. It's not class to stop them.

“And Manchester City never wanted to block Rodri. They wanted to find the best solution financially for them, and that's why they rejected two proposals from Barcelona, €50 million and €60m, add-ons included.

Current ETV

Rodri

DM, M (C)

Man City

Rodri

DM, M (C)

Man City

ETV Range

€53.3M - €65.1M

“So the first bid was €45m plus €5m. The second bid was €55m plus €5m, and now for €65m plus €5m, something more in the fixed part, but I will be more precise in the next hours, Barcelona have reached a verbal agreement with Manchester City for Rodri.

“The deal is done. Barcelona are exchanging all the documents with Manchester City. This process will take hours, of course, so now the two clubs are in direct contact to finalise the deal, also from the official point of view. So they are exchanging all the paperwork, exchanging all the documents.

“Rodri today was not with the Manchester City squad in Cardiff for the Community Shield. Obviously, he was never going to play because he just returned from holiday. So Rodri still needs to build his fitness after a fantastic World Cup and well-deserved holidays.

“But the message was already quite clear. Rodri is known in the football industry because he's always been travelling with the Manchester City squad. Even when he was injured, he was on the bench, he was in the stands. He was always with the team, always supporting, always a captain in the sense of leadership rather than being the official captain only.

“And Rodri today was not there. Rodri was not there because Barcelona and Manchester City closed the deal for Rodri to join Barcelona.”

Why Rodri chose Barcelona over Real Madrid

Romano explains that Real Madrid only seriously entered the race for Rodri later in the summer, by which point Barcelona had already convinced the midfielder to join them.

“It's a massive story because Rodri was a target for Real Madrid only for a few weeks in the market. In June, Real Madrid were not going for Rodri. Florentino Perez was not happy for Rodri to be part of the election campaign wanted by Enrique Riquelme, the other candidate to become Real Madrid president,” Romano claimed.

“Then, after the World Cup, Florentino Perez decided to give the green light for Real Madrid to try for Rodri. But then Rodri made a decision. It was almost 10 days ago. He decided to go to Barcelona.

“He agreed on personal terms with Barcelona, and now the deal is done between Barca and Manchester City after the agreement. Real Madrid, Rodri and Real Madrid discussed for a long time, but then Barcelona entered the deal with Rodri and with his agent Pablo Barquero in a very strong way.

“The contract is done. The salary is done. The paperwork has been prepared. Rodri next week will be in Barcelona and he's not going to be the only one because Joao Cancelo is also coming.”

© IMAGO - Rodri won the Golden Ball at the 2026 World Cup with Spain

Joao Cancelo to Barcelona is also ‘here we go’

Romano also confirms that Joao Cancelo will return to Barcelona as a free agent after agreeing the termination of his contract with Al Hilal.

“Deal done. Joao Cancelo to Barcelona. Everything done. Everything agreed,” Romano said.

“Al Hilal terminated the contract of Joao Cancelo. Al Hilal understood that Cancelo didn't want to be there. They understood that Joao Cancelo was never going to consider any different option.

“And so the agreement is on the termination of the contract. Joao Cancelo will join Barcelona as a free agent. Everything agreed. Done. Everything completed, also in this case.

“So formally, it's time to sign the contract termination between Cancelo, his agent Jorge Mendes and Al Hilal in the next hours. And then Cancelo will be early next week in Barcelona as well.

Current ETV

João Cancelo

D (RL)

Al-Hilal

João Cancelo

D (RL)

Al-Hilal

ETV Range

€4.9M - €6.7M

“So Cancelo is coming, Rodri is coming. Today, Hansi Flick, after winning the last pre-season friendly game before La Liga, said, ‘Well, it's going to be an important week. Let's see what happens next week because we still miss something.’

“Well, in a few hours, Joao Cancelo, here we go. Rodri, here we go. Massive, massive news for Barcelona.”

Manchester City still want Enzo Fernandez after deadline passes

Romano says Manchester City remain determined to explore a deal for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez, despite their rivals’ deadline of a bid last Friday being ignored.

“Manchester City are still thinking of Enzo Fernandez in midfield,” Romano explained.

“Man City are not giving up on Enzo Fernandez, even after the deadline. The deadline passed on Friday, which means that now any club interested in Enzo Fernandez, and in this case it's Manchester City, because it's going to be Manchester City negotiating with Chelsea, Man City know that they have to negotiate now.

“There is no longer a verbal agreement on the exit. It's something that they have in their hands. So now it's Chelsea deciding, it's Chelsea evaluating the situation.

© IMAGO - Enzo Fernandez: Still a target for Chelsea

“Now it's going to be important to understand more on this story because it's on Chelsea to decide the price, but Manchester City are still there. Manchester City are still calling the agent of the player. Manchester City are still in contact.

“Manchester City lost the game against Arsenal and it's very clear that Manchester City need signings. So I expect two things from Man City.

“The first one, close Ayyoub Bouaddi. Manchester City have an agreement with Bouaddi on personal terms and they are expected also to advance with Lille to close the deal in the next hours. It could be any moment. But Bouaddi is expected to go to Manchester City very soon. It's a matter of time.

“And then Enzo Fernandez. Enzo Fernandez... I expect City to try again. Then we have to see what Chelsea will do. We have to see what the player will do.

“Because at the moment, Chelsea still send a very clear message: ‘We are in control. We decide. And we will be happy to keep him.’”

Tottenham make Savinho their top target as Man City winger misses Arsenal game

Romano reveals Tottenham remain firmly focused on signing Savinho, who was not included in Manchester City’s squad to face Arsenal.

“In terms of movements these hours, I keep telling you: Tottenham and Savinho. Savinho not in the squad today for Manchester City to face Arsenal,” Romano said.

“And Savinho remains the absolute top target for Tottenham. And Tottenham are working on it.”