Rodri Reveals Why He Chose Barcelona Over Real Madrid
Real Madrid thought they had him. All summer, the Bernabeu machine pushed hard, convinced Rodri would be the next pillar of their midfield. Heavy favourites, strong contacts, a clear sporting project – it looked like a done deal.
He chose Barcelona instead.
In an interview with MD, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner finally unpacked the decision that stunned Madrid and delighted Barça, making it clear this was not about politics, grudges or headlines. It was about football.
A decision that ruined his holiday
Rodri admitted the saga turned what should have been a quiet break into a mental marathon.
"The first thing I have to say is that I would have liked it to have been two or three weeks of quiet vacation and they were not at all. Many things had to be analysed, and such an important decision had to be made with two of the best clubs in the world," he explained.
Two giants. One choice. No easy way out.
"In the end I made a decision on the sporting level, so it gave me a little more desire and to understand where I could win and grow more as a player. It was not an easy decision at all, saying no to Madrid is not easy, and above all that, they behaved exemplarily with me. In the end, Deco and Hansi convinced me."
That last line tells the story. Deco and Hansi Flick tipped the balance. Barcelona’s sporting project, as sold by their sporting director and head coach, spoke louder than Madrid’s power, history and pressure.
Mourinho’s charm offensive
On the other side of the rivalry, Jose Mourinho did everything expected of a Real Madrid coach trying to land a generational midfielder.
Rodri revealed respectful, direct conversations with the Portuguese coach, both before and after his decision.
"I don't think it's his thing to reveal a private conversation, but he obviously expressed his desire for me to join, and he told me what I could bring to the team. The treatment was very good," Rodri said.
This was not a cold rejection. Not a bridge burned.
"When I made the decision, I also called him to thank him for his interest and treatment. I think he's a great coach, he's already shown it wherever he's gone in his great stages and Real Madrid are going to be a tough opponent for this league."
There it is: admiration without compromise. Rodri turned Madrid down, but he did it with a phone call, not a press leak. Respect runs both ways, even in the middle of Spain’s most charged rivalry.
Ballon d'Or boycott “not a factor”
One detail could easily have poisoned the well. Real Madrid chose to boycott Rodri’s 2024 Ballon d'Or victory, a stance that drew plenty of noise around the player and the club.
He shut that angle down. Rodri made it very clear that the boycott played no part in his thinking. No revenge arc, no emotional payback, no grudge steering the move.
This was a football decision, pure and simple: where he would win more, where he would grow more, where the project on the pitch felt sharper.
Madrid pushed. Mourinho called. The club treated him “exemplarily.”
Barcelona, through Deco and Hansi Flick, still found the words – and the plan – that made a Ballon d'Or winner walk away from the Bernabeu and walk straight into Camp Nou.
