Marca: Rodri chose Barcelona after Real Madrid's hesitation
According to Marca, Rodri Hernandez opted for a move to Barcelona after Real Madrid failed to show full conviction in signing the midfielder.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Author: Bryan Berlin
Manchester City midfielder Rodri has completed a move to Barcelona, ending his long-held ambition to play for Real Madrid. A report from Marca reveals that the deal collapsed due to doubts within the Madrid hierarchy and Barcelona's aggressive pursuit.
Back in 2019, while at Atletico Madrid, Rodri had hoped for an approach from the Merengues, but they opted for other midfield options. This summer, following his standout World Cup performance, the possibility of his arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu returned. However, Real Madrid's board remained unconvinced.
"Rodri slows the pace of the ball down too much, and that is not what we are looking for," stated Real Madrid officials.
Despite his record-breaking passing accuracy at the World Cup, the club wanted a more dynamic profile. Conversely, Barcelona made their intentions clear, with club president Joan Laporta, sporting director Deco, and coach Hansi Flick all engaging directly with the player.
The report emphasizes that financial factors were not the decider, as the offers were comparable. Instead, Rodri was swayed by Barcelona's stable sporting project, which he felt better mirrored the style of the world champion Spanish national team compared to Real Madrid's current phase of instability.
After confirming his decision, Rodri personally thanked the Real Madrid board for their respect during discussions. The transfer to Barcelona was only finalized after the Catalan club made five separate approaches to Manchester City.