Barcelona priority transfer target expected to miss training next week amid future uncertainty

Barcelona's pursuit of Manchester City's Rodri has hit a potential snag as the Spanish midfielder may skip training next week due to uncertainty surrounding his future. Negotiations between Barcelona and City have been ongoing for over a week, with the Catalan club now nearing a third bid for the 30-year-old midfielder. According to Jack Gaughan, Rodri anticipates a resolution in the transfer situation soon.

The player is expected to miss City's upcoming training sessions as he believes the negotiations will have concluded. Barcelona remains confident of securing a deal for Rodri, primarily because they are confident in reaching an agreement on a fee that is both acceptable to them and reflective of Rodri's stature as a Ballon d'Or winner and the world's best defensive midfielder.

Meanwhile, City is determined to meet a fee that matches Rodri's status as a top-tier player. If Barcelona successfully closes the deal, the Spanish club would benefit from adding Rodri's experience, control, and leadership to their midfield, which is already filled with technical talent. This move would also allow Barcelona to manage Marc Bernal's development more carefully, as the young player would not face immediate pressure to step up.

The expected absence from City's training sessions does not guarantee Rodri's eventual transfer to Barcelona, as a final agreement between the two clubs still needs to be reached. Nevertheless, the news suggests that the transfer saga is nearing its conclusion, and Barcelona has finally come closer to replacing their long-time defensive midfielder, Sergio Busquets.