Barcelona’s Rodri Apologizes to Valencia After ‘Weak’ Remark Caught on Camera

Rodri Issues Apology Following On-Camera Comment About Valencia

Barcelona midfielder Rodri publicly apologized after TV cameras caught him calling Valencia "weak" during their recent La Liga clash. The incident happened as Barcelona secured a commanding 5-0 win over Valencia at the Mestalla Stadium.

Lip-Reading Reveals Critical Words

The controversy arose when broadcaster Movistar used high-definition footage to pick up a private exchange between Rodri and teammates Pau Cubarsi and Raphinha on the bench. Rodri was overheard saying, "They’re really weak. They haven’t got past the halfway line," referring to Valencia’s performance. This sparked backlash from Valencia supporters who saw the remarks as disrespectful given the club's struggles near the bottom of La Liga.

Personal and Public Apologies Made

After the footage circulated, Rodri acted quickly to address the fallout. He reached out personally to Valencia captain Jose Gaya to apologize and clarify his intentions. Following Barcelona’s 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord, Rodri spoke to reporters to publicly express regret.

“First and foremost, I’d like to apologize to anyone who may have felt offended,” he said. “I had a phone call with my friend Jose Gaya and apologized to him and the whole squad. I want to make it clear that it was an expression of surprise; anyone who watches the video can see that at no point did I intend to mock or take any team out of context. Quite the opposite.”

He also praised Valencia, saying he hopes they regain their status as one of the league’s top clubs. Rodri emphasized that the comment was made in a private moment and cautioned against taking things out of context.

Barcelona Moves Forward With Strong Performances

The incident did not distract Barcelona on the pitch, as they continued their strong form by defeating Feyenoord in Europe. Rodri played a key midfield role as goals from Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal, Raphinha (twice), and Gabriel Jesus helped secure a 5-1 victory.

Looking ahead, Barcelona will focus on their domestic schedule with a match against Levante coming up. They aim to keep their unbeaten run intact and stay atop the La Liga standings.

• Upcoming La Liga Fixtures:
• Sevilla vs Valencia: 11 Sept 2026, 21:00
• Levante vs Barcelona: 13 Sept 2026, 16:15