José Mourinho, the newly appointed Real Madrid head coach, has revealed in an interview in Spain, that Rodri Hernández’s hesitation contributed to Real Madrid abandoning their pursuit of the Manchester City midfielder before Rodri completed a reported £65.4 million move to Barcelona.
Mourinho said he personally spoke to Rodri several times during negotiations and confirmed that Real Madrid had presented the 30-year-old Spain international with a strong proposal.
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“I spoke to him a couple of times and Real Madrid made him a very good offer,” Mourinho said, according to comments reported by ESPN and other Spanish media.
The Portuguese coach said Rodri’s uncertainty eventually affected Madrid’s own thinking.
“Rodri had doubts, he hesitated and Rodri’s doubts created doubts for me,” Mourinho explained.
Mourinho added that Madrid could not afford to bring in a player who was uncertain about joining the club.
“He is an extraordinary player and was very respectful with us, nothing negative to say,” Mourinho said, while making clear that the hesitation influenced the club’s final decision.
Rodri’s transfer has since developed into a significant coup for Barcelona.
The Catalan club officially completed the signing from Manchester City on Tuesday, with the midfielder agreeing a contract until June 2030.
Reuters reported the transfer at £65.4 million, while other reports have put the package at €60 million plus add-ons.
The move ends Rodri’s seven-year spell at Manchester City, where he established himself as one of Europe’s most influential midfielders.
Rodri made 298 appearances for City, scoring 28 goals and helping the club win 14 major trophies, including four Premier League titles and the Champions League.
His decisive goal in the 2023 Champions League final against Inter Milan also secured his place in the club’s history.
His individual achievements have been equally remarkable.
Rodri won the 2024 Ballon d’Or and was named the best player at the 2026 World Cup after captaining Spain to the title.
That pedigree explains why the midfielder became such an attractive target for Real Madrid during the summer transfer window.
Madrid’s interest was not merely about adding another established name to the squad.
Rodri’s technical quality, positional intelligence and experience made him a natural candidate to strengthen the centre of the pitch.
However, Barcelona eventually moved decisively when the Madrid negotiations stalled.
Reports from Spain indicate that Barcelona’s sporting project and Rodri’s longstanding appreciation for the club played an important role in his eventual decision.
A conversation with Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was also reported to have influenced the midfielder’s thinking.
Rodri himself described leaving Manchester City as a difficult decision but expressed confidence in Barcelona’s footballing philosophy following his arrival.
The transfer also carries an added layer of significance because Barcelona have effectively taken a player who was being strongly courted by their fiercest domestic rivals.
For Mourinho, however, the outcome does not appear to have left him dwelling on the failed pursuit.
The returning Madrid coach said he was satisfied with the solutions already available to him and maintained that Rodri’s quality was never in question.
The episode instead highlights how fine the margins can be in elite transfers.
Even after a club makes an attractive financial proposal and establishes contact with a player, uncertainty at the final stage can change the destination of a major signing.
For Rodri, that hesitation ultimately preceded a move to Barcelona.
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For Real Madrid, Mourinho’s explanation suggests the club preferred certainty over pursuing a player who was not completely convinced about making the move.
Peculiar Adirika is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
