Mourinho furious as Real Madrid miss out on Rodri to Barcelona
Reports from SPORT indicate Jose Mourinho has expressed frustration to the board after Rodri agreed to terms with rivals FC Barcelona, leaving Real Madrid without a replacement for departed stars Toni Kroos and Luka Modric.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has reportedly expressed fury to club executives following the collapse of negotiations for midfielder Rodri, who is now set to join bitter rivals FC Barcelona. The development marks a significant blow to the club’s ambitions, particularly as they grapple with a midfield void left by the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
According to the Spanish publication SPORT, citing anonymous sources, the breakdown in talks between Real Madrid and Manchester City was followed by a direct approach from Barcelona. Rodri, who captained Spain to World Cup victory and was named the tournament’s best player, agreed to terms with the Catalans after receiving a call from Hansi Flick.
The situation has reportedly angered both Mourinho and Real Madrid president Florentino Perez. Perez is said to be particularly incensed by Rodri rejecting a strong personal offer from the club, only to choose the other side of the El Clasico divide. Mourinho, accustomed to securing his targets, was reportedly unable to believe the news when informed of the rejection and the player’s departure to Barcelona.
In response to the manager’s frustration, club executives have stated there are no further plans to reinforce the midfield. The board maintains that the squad is considered full following recent acquisitions, which include Bernardo Silva, Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Carlos Espi, Ibrahima Konate, and Yan Diomande. Executives have also indicated that the current market does not offer worthy alternatives to replace the departing Kroos and Modric.
The failure to secure Rodri exacerbates Real Madrid’s recent struggles on the pitch. Over the past two seasons, Barcelona has claimed five out of six available domestic trophies, while Real Madrid went trophyless. Analysts have frequently cited a lack of control in midfield as a key factor in this drought, with Rodri viewed as the missing piece that could have altered the competitive balance in Spain.
