Jose Mourinho Explains Why Real Madrid Abandoned Rodri Pursuit Before Barcelona Signing

Jose Mourinho has shared the reason Real Madrid stopped chasing Rodri prior to his high-profile transfer to Barcelona this summer. Despite missing out on the 2025 Ballon d'Or winner, Mourinho expressed no regrets about losing the midfielder to their rivals.

Rodri Joins Barcelona in a Major Transfer

Rodri's move to Barcelona was confirmed recently, with the Spanish international signing a four-year deal lasting until June 2030. The clubs agreed on a guaranteed fee of €60 million, but performance-related bonuses could push the total payment up to €76.5 million.

After a successful period at Manchester City's Etihad Stadium, Rodri pushed for a transfer. Initially, Real Madrid seemed poised to secure the player, with agent Pablo Barquero revealing that Los Blancos made an offer that was hard to refuse. Still, Rodri ultimately chose Barcelona.

Mourinho Cites Player's Hesitation as Decisive Factor

The Madrid boss opened up about the failed negotiations. According to him, Real Madrid presented Rodri with an attractive contract, but hesitation from the player derailed the move.

"I spoke to him a couple of times and Real Madrid made him a very good offer," Mourinho told El Chiringuito. "There is a strong relationship with City. Without negotiating directly with City, the club reached out to Rodri with a major proposal. He hesitated, and his doubts caused doubts for me."

Mourinho praised Rodri as an exceptional player who behaved respectfully throughout talks but emphasized that Madrid demands decisive commitment. He added:

"Real Madrid is a club that can’t have players second-guessing themselves. When you make contact, the player should ask: 'When do I have to go?' That’s the idea. He was respectful, and I wish him well… though not too well."

Mourinho Confident Despite Missing Out on Rodri

Although many saw Rodri as the ideal successor to Toni Kroos and Luka Modric to control Madrid’s midfield, Mourinho dismissed concerns about lacking quality in that area.

"I am not missing Rodri," he said firmly. "We are not short of players. I’m not ruling out new signings because the market is open, but if you ask me if it’s closed for me, then yes. I like the squad we have."

Madrid’s Midfield Plans Ahead of New Season

Throughout pre-season, Mourinho has favored a 4-2-3-1 setup, deploying a double pivot behind the attacking line. Federico Valverde and Bernardo Silva have featured prominently as the main midfield duo during the build-up to the season.

With the La Liga opener approaching, Madrid’s midfield composition remains a hot topic. Meanwhile, Rodri will focus on fitting into the Barcelona squad and aims to help his new team challenge Madrid for the Spanish title.

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