Rodri has revealed why he snubbed Real Madrid in favour of a summer move to Barcelona from Manchester City, insisting the decision was driven purely by sporting reasons.
The Spain midfielder and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner admitted turning down Los Blancos was not easy, but Barcelona’s project under Hansi Flick ultimately convinced him.
🚨 Rodri: “Saying NO to Real Madrid was not easy, especially since they treated me so well”.
“I made my decision based on sporting aspects, on what excited me more and where I felt I could win and grow the most as a player”, told @mundodeportivo. pic.twitter.com/gkwK0gK5gD
“It’s been a process, rather than a decision,” Rodri told Mundo Deportivo. “First, you have to realise that your time there has come to an end and that you might want a new challenge. From there, the moment the opportunity at Barcelona arose, I realised it was the best thing for me for many reasons.
“I’ve always based my decisions on sporting considerations — where I believe I’ll be able to win, be happy and, above all, develop as a player. That’s why I chose Barca, also because of the generation of players they have and what Hansi is building there. Ultimately, Deco and Hansi convinced me.
“I had to weigh up a lot of things and make such an important decision between two of the best clubs in the world. In the end, I made my decision based on sporting considerations. It wasn’t easy at all — saying no to Madrid wasn’t easy, especially as they treated me exceptionally well.”
Rodri also praised Barcelona’s approach, describing the club as feeling like a family, with no pressure applied during negotiations.
