José Mourinho has downplayed Real Madrid’s failure to sign Rodri, insisting that while the Spanish midfielder would have been a fantastic addition, he was not a necessary transfer to address any squad deficiency.
The Portuguese manager spoke during the pre-match press conference ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga season opener against Espanyol.
“Signing Rodri was not a necessity. We don’t have any shortcomings; it was more like putting the cherry on top of the cake,” Mourinho stated.
He added: “We have Tchouaméni, Camavinga, Valverde, and Bernardo Silva, while Arda Güler could also end up playing in that role as well.”
When asked directly if Real Madrid’s midfield still needed a new reinforcement, he replied: “No, I don’t think so. Of course, Rodri would have been a great signing, but we have Tchouaméni, Bernardo, and even Arda can play in that role.”
This marks the second time in recent days that Mourinho has adopted this tone regarding the missed transfer, having previously revealed that he spoke with the player twice and that Real Madrid offered a substantial financial package.
Mourinho explained at the time that Rodri’s hesitation to accept the move caused him to step back as well, stating: “He had doubts, and the doubts he had created doubts for me,” before stressing that Real Madrid cannot wait for a player who thinks twice about joining them.
The saga concluded with Rodri moving from Manchester City to Barcelona for €75 million, signing a four-year contract through the summer of 2030, after confirming that the Catalan club was his first choice upon deciding to return to Spain.
Mourinho also addressed the past rift between Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni, confirming he decided to give the pair a fresh start without letting last season’s events dictate his stance.
“I decided they should start from scratch. I observe their relationship daily, and it is impossible to dwell on what happened last season,” he said.
He continued: “It was completely natural; they are very close friends, and it is as if nothing ever happened.”
Real Madrid had previously handed the duo the largest fine in the club’s history following a fight last May, which resulted in Valverde being taken to the hospital with a facial injury.
