Mourinho: I Don't Need Rodri, Real Has Its Own Solutions
The Portuguese coach commented on the arrival of the Spanish international at Barcelona, admitting that Real Madrid made a 'very good offer,' but doubts arose.
The Portuguese coach commented on the arrival of the Spanish international at Barcelona, admitting that Real Madrid made a 'very good offer,' but doubts arose.
Jose Mourinho, who has returned to the Real Madrid bench, told Spanish television El Chiringuito that he does not need Rodri, Barcelona's new player. The Spanish captain officially signed for the Catalan club on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, following a transfer from Manchester City, as reported by Al Jazeera.
Mourinho revealed that the club had contacted Rodri and that he personally spoke with the player twice while Real was considering bringing the World Cup's best player into their squad. He also admitted that Madrid made a 'very good offer' for the Spanish international. However, the Portuguese tactician got the impression that the midfielder was not certain about his future.
"The club contacted him, but he had some doubts. What I think happened is that his doubts created doubts in me. He is an outstanding player and he was very respectful towards us. But Real Madrid is of such magnitude that it cannot have players who think twice about being at the club."
Mourinho made these remarks on Tuesday evening, just hours before Barcelona officially confirmed Rodri's arrival. He also emphasized that Real Madrid maintains excellent relations with Manchester City and that the royal club contacted the player directly to present a highly competitive offer.
Interestingly, Mourinho was officially presented in Madrid on Tuesday in an unusual ceremony closed to the media and fans. He was hired back in June 2026 and took charge of the team in July at the start of preseason.
When asked about Rodri, Mourinho was direct.
"I don't need Rodri. We have solutions, quality players. Victories are won on the pitch; they are won with titles."
He added that he does not believe Barcelona's signing puts Real at a disadvantage. He also expressed his confidence in his ability to develop the young players in the current squad.
After a second consecutive season without a major trophy, Real Madrid brought in several reinforcements to the squad. Among them are Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, and Yan Diomande.
Despite this, Mourinho made it clear that there will be no new acquisitions.
"I'm not saying there won't be new signings because the market is still open, but if you ask me directly if it's closed [for Madrid], yes, it's closed."
Real Madrid opens the new La Liga season on Saturday, August 22, 2026, with an away match against Espanyol. Barcelona signed Rodri for around 75 million euros, with the contract running until 2030. The Catalans also released a video dedicated to the new midfielder with the message: "The master of space and time has landed in Barcelona." Rodri joined Manchester City in 2019 from Atletico Madrid, and his individual peak came in 2024 when he won the Ballon d'Or.
