Jose Mourinho Explains Why Real Madrid Dropped Their Pursuit of Rodri Before Barcelona Signed Him

Jose Mourinho has revealed the reason Real Madrid abandoned their chase for Rodri prior to his high-profile move to Barcelona. The former Manchester City midfielder, who recently won the 2025 Ballon d'Or, joined Barcelona in a major transfer this summer. Despite missing out on the signing, Mourinho says he holds no regrets.

Rodri Joins Barcelona in Blockbuster Deal

Rodri officially became a Barcelona player after signing a four-year contract lasting until June 2030. Barcelona agreed a base fee of €60 million with Manchester City, with potential add-ons that could push the total value up to €76.5 million. After a successful spell at the Etihad Stadium, the Spanish international pushed for a move away. Initially, Real Madrid led the effort with an attractive offer confirmed by agent Pablo Barquero, but Rodri ultimately chose Barcelona instead.

Mourinho Cites Player Hesitation as Deal Breaker

The Real Madrid manager shed light on what went wrong. He explained they made a very good offer to Rodri and had a strong relationship with City. Without needing to negotiate with the club first, Madrid reached out directly to the player. But Rodri’s hesitation led to doubts on both sides.

"I spoke to him a couple of times and Real Madrid made him a very good offer," Mourinho told El Chiringuito. "Rodri had doubts, he hesitated and Rodri’s doubts created doubts for me."

Mourinho praised Rodri's professionalism but stressed Real Madrid requires players who commit fully without second-guessing. The manager added, "When you make contact and the player asks: 'When do I have to go?' that’s not the kind of attitude we look for. Still, he was very respectful. I wish him well… but not too well, obviously."

Mourinho Confident Squad Does Not Need Rodri

Despite missing out on the World Cup Golden Ball winner, Mourinho dismissed any regrets. Many believed Rodri could replace the aging Toni Kroos and Luka Modric as midfield maestro. Mourinho, though, trusts his current squad and believes in developing existing talent rather than rushing signings.

"I am not lacking Rodri," Mourinho said. "We are not lacking players. The market is open, so there might be signings, but if you ask me directly if it’s closed for me… yes. It is closed. I really like the squad."

Madrid's Midfield Setup Ahead of New Season

During pre-season, Mourinho used a 4-2-3-1 formation with a double pivot in midfield. Federico Valverde and Bernardo Silva took most of the minutes together in midfield. As La Liga kicks off, Madrid’s midfield remains a key talking point.

Meanwhile, Rodri will focus on fitting into Barcelona’s lineup and aims to help his new team challenge Mourinho’s side for the Spanish title.

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• 22 Aug 2026, 21:30: Espanyol vs Real Madrid (La Liga opener)