Mourinho Reveals Real Madrid’s Offer to Rodri and Player’s Doubts Led to Barcelona Move

José Mourinho has confirmed that Real Madrid made a substantial offer to sign Rodri before the Spain captain ultimately chose to join Barcelona. The midfielder completed his transfer from Manchester City to Barcelona for £65.4 million, with Rodri stating that Barcelona was "always my first choice." Mourinho revealed the details during an interview with El Chiringuito.

According to Mourinho, he spoke directly with Rodri on multiple occasions and Real Madrid presented a very good offer to the player. However, Rodri expressed doubts and hesitation regarding the move to Madrid, which made the club reluctant to push forward aggressively with the transfer. Mourinho explained that this uncertainty led Real Madrid to step back from pursuing the midfielder further.

This development had a notable impact on the transfer market and the balance of power in Spanish football. Rodri’s decision to join Barcelona strengthens the Catalan club’s midfield options ahead of the upcoming season, while Real Madrid will need to explore alternative targets to reinforce their squad. Mourinho also remarked that he would not miss Rodri at the Santiago Bernabéu, signaling confidence in his current squad despite missing out on the player.

The transfer marks a significant shift as Rodri moves from the Premier League to one of Spain’s biggest rivals. Barcelona will now focus on integrating him quickly to maximize his influence in both domestic and European competitions. Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s next steps likely involve identifying other midfield reinforcements to maintain their competitive edge.

Looking forward, the decision by Rodri to join Barcelona over Real Madrid will be a key storyline in La Liga this season, potentially affecting the rivalry between the two giants. Both clubs will adapt their strategies accordingly in the coming weeks as the transfer window progresses.

For more information, see the original report on theguardian.com.