Why Madrid did not sign Rodri — Mourinho

Spanish international footballer Rodri poses with a jersey bearing his name during his official presentation as FC Barcelona's new player on August 18, 2026 in Barcelona. CREDIT: AFP

Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has revealed why Real Madrid ultimately failed to sign Rodri, despite making a major proposal for the Manchester City midfielder.

Rodri was one of Madrid’s leading targets this summer, but the Spanish giants eventually saw their pursuit collapse before the midfielder completed a move to Barcelona.

Mourinho has now explained that Rodri’s own hesitation played a decisive role in the deal falling through.

The Portuguese manager said he personally spoke with Rodri during the negotiations and confirmed that Madrid made a strong offer to convince the Spain international.

As reported by Fabrizio Romano on X on Wednesday, Mourinho was quoted as saying, “I spoke to him a couple of times and Real Madrid made him a very good offer.”

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He added that Madrid had a good relationship with Manchester City and had approached Rodri directly before negotiating with the English club.

However, Rodri was not fully convinced about the move.
According to Mourinho, that uncertainty eventually caused Madrid to reconsider their own position.

“Rodri had doubts, he hesitated and Rodri’s doubts created doubts for me,” Mourinho explained.

“He is an extraordinary player and was very respectful with us, nothing negative to say,” Mourinho said.

Gilbert Ekugbe is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with over a decade of experience reporting on business and economic affairs. He covers markets, corporate developments, finance, and Nigeria’s broader economic landscape. His reporting is informed by extensive newsroom experience and a strong commitment to accuracy and responsible journalism, helping readers understand complex business issues.

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