New Delhi, Aug. 11 -- BARCELONA - The gap Barcelona needed to close was €20 million. On Sunday, they closed it.

The club's third offer for Rodri - €65 million in guaranteed fees plus €5 million in performance-based add-ons - has met Manchester City's stated minimum of €70 million for the midfielder, according to Goal.com. Barcelona sporting director Deco is now expected to hold talks with City counterpart Hugo Viana to determine whether that number closes the deal or merely opens the next phase of a negotiation that has already failed twice.

What shifted between July 30 and August 11 is not just the size of Barcelona's offer. Rodri himself shifted. Two weeks ago, the Spain midfielder had told Barcelona no and dir...