Rodri did choose Barcelona over Real Madrid, and José Mourinho confirmed he spoke with the midfielder twice while Madrid were pursuing him. But the timeline in the supplied report is wrong: Barcelona completed and unveiled the signing on August 18, not in early August, and Mourinho’s comments came on the same day as the presentation rather than hours beforehand.
The transfer
Barcelona signed Rodri from Manchester City in a deal worth up to €76.5 million: €60 million guaranteed, plus €11.5 million in more achievable add-ons and a further €5 million in potential bonuses. He signed a four-year contract through June 2030.
Barcelona’s initial approach, made on August 7, was reportedly around €45 million plus add-ons. City rejected it, but Barcelona improved their terms and reached an agreement in principle nine days later before completing the transfer.
Rodri described Barcelona as his preferred destination, saying: “It is true that I had another proposal, but Barça were the first option and I told the board that.”
Mourinho’s account
Mourinho said Real Madrid made Rodri “a very good offer” and that he had spoken to the player “a couple of times.” In Mourinho’s telling, Rodri’s uncertainty about the move changed Madrid’s internal view of the deal:
“Rodri had doubts, he doubted, and I think what happened is that the doubts Rodri had, gave me doubts. He’s an extraordinary player. But I think Real Madrid are so big that we can’t have players who think twice.”
The Madrid coach stressed that he bore Rodri no ill will and that the player had behaved properly during the process. His argument was about Madrid’s recruitment standard: he said the club should sign players who are unequivocal about joining.
Rodri’s response
Rodri later confirmed that he spoke with Mourinho, but he did not disclose the private content of their conversations. He said Mourinho made clear that he wanted him at Madrid and explained what he believed Rodri could contribute; once Rodri chose Barcelona, he phoned Mourinho to thank him for the interest and respectful treatment.
That account supports the existence of the conversations, while putting a less confrontational gloss on Mourinho’s public framing of Rodri’s “doubts.”
Corrections and caveats
Claim in the supplied report Best-supported position
Barcelona deal confirmed in early August. Barcelona completed and announced the deal on August 18.
Rodri was unveiled hours after Mourinho spoke. The comments and presentation occurred on the same day; exact sequencing is not firmly established in the reviewed sources.
The fee was unspecified. Up to €76.5 million, with €60 million up front.
Rodri signed after prioritising Barcelona. Supported by Rodri’s own statement that Barça were his first option.
He joined eight Spain World Cup-winning teammates. This is incorrect: Spain were not World Cup winners, and the named group should not be described that way.
Flick’s tactical vision was a decisive, confirmed reason. Plausible but not established in the sourced quotes reviewed; Rodri’s stated first-choice preference is the stronger claim.
Why the choice matters
The transfer is significant because Barcelona beat their principal domestic rival for one of Europe’s most accomplished midfielders, while Madrid chose not to press its interest after concluding that Rodri was not fully committed to the move. Barcelona gain an elite controller with extensive experience under Pep Guardiola; Madrid’s response reflects Mourinho’s insistence that recruitment must align with total conviction from the player.
