“The Madrid team did everything they could to sign me” — Rodri

“The Madrid team did everything in their power to sign me” — Rodri

Spain national team captain and Barcelona midfielder Rodri revealed that Real Madrid made a serious effort to sign him during the summer transfer window. Despite this, the player rejected the Madrid club's offer and chose Barcelona. According to him, it was football-related aspects, rather than financial or emotional factors, that played a decisive role in his decision.

In an interview with the El Partidazo de COPE program, Rodri spoke about the "Los Blancos" approach to the transfer. He noted that the Madrid club showed interest from the very first stages of negotiations and made a serious effort to complete the transfer.

“Madrid showed interest from the very beginning. Their conduct during the negotiations was excellent. The offers were aimed at doing everything possible to sign the player. I spoke with the people there. They made it clear that they really wanted to bring me to the team,” Rodri said.

The 30-year-old player noted that despite Real Madrid's strong interest, his decision to move to Barcelona was based on football-related factors. Rodri felt that the Catalan team's philosophy of play, tactical approach, and project built around young players were close to his own views.

In his opinion, the positional style of football at Barcelona and the club's long-term plans align with his understanding of football. In addition, the opportunity to guide young players as an experienced footballer also influenced his choice.

“It was a football decision. I thought about where I could develop better. It is related to my attitude towards the game and my vision of the new generation at Barcelona that is attracting everyone's attention. There were no emotional or financial reasons behind this decision. It was all purely about football,” the Spanish midfielder explained.

Rodri moved from Manchester City to Barcelona during the summer transfer window. The transfer fee was 76.5 million euros, and the player signed a four-year contract with the Catalans.

The Spain national team captain made his La Liga debut for Barcelona in a match against Athletic. He is expected to play a key role in the team's midfield and contribute to the club's new victories with his experience.