Rodri finally shares why he chose Barcelona over Real Madrid — plus a phone call from Jose Mourinho!
Former Manchester City midfielder Rodri has finally shared the real reason he chose to join Barcelona instead of Real Madrid this summer. He also talked about a chat he had with José Mourinho.
Many were surprised when the 2024 Ballon d’Or winner left Man City during the summer transfer window to join Barcelona for around £65.4 million. Since arriving in Catalonia, the 30-year-old has played five games and helped Hansi Flick’s team start the season perfectly. Barça is currently top of La Liga, winning all their matches so far.
It seems like Rodri made the right choice by picking Barça over their rivals Real Madrid, who were also interested in signing the World Cup winner. At first, it wasn’t clear why he chose Barcelona, but in a recent interview with Spanish media Mundo Deportivo, he opened up about his decision.
Rodri said his choice was all about “sporting reasons” and where he thought he could win the most trophies. He explained, “I wish I could have had a quiet two or three weeks of vacation, but it wasn’t like that. There were many things to think about, and I had to make a big decision between two of the best clubs in the world. In the end, I chose based on what motivated me most and where I believed I could grow and win more.”
He added, “It wasn’t easy to say no to Real Madrid because they treated me very well. But Deco and Hansi’s leadership convinced me.” Rodri continued, “I always decide based on sporting reasons — where I think I’ll be happy, win, and improve as a player. That’s why I picked Barça, also because of the group of players and what Hansi is building.”
Rodri also revealed that Real Madrid’s coach Mourinho had clearly shown he wanted to sign him. After deciding to join Barça, Rodri called Mourinho to thank him for his interest. “I don’t want to share private details, but he made it clear he wanted me and saw what I could bring to the team,” Rodri said. “Our talk was very positive. When I made my choice, I thanked him for his interest and the way he treated me. I think he’s a fantastic coach. He’s had great success, and Real Madrid will be a tough rival in the league.”
Barcelona will play Racing Santander next on Wednesday, September 16.