Barcelona’s new midfielder Rodri has spoken for the first time about the tough decision he faced last summer between joining Real Madrid or Barcelona.
The Spanish star, who moved to Camp Nou from Manchester City, admitted that rejecting Real Madrid was far from straightforward.
“Saying NO to Real Madrid was not easy, especially since they treated me so well,” Rodri revealed.
He insisted that his choice was guided strictly by football reasons rather than any other factor.
“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.”
Rodri added that conversations with Barcelona sporting director Deco and coach Hansi Flick played a major role in convincing him that the Catalan club offered the best platform for his next chapter.
The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner has already made a strong impact since arriving at Barcelona, helping the side start the season in impressive form.