Rodri turned down Real Madrid: “Not easy”

Rodri has opened up about the chance to join Real Madrid and made it clear his decision not to go was far from simple. As reported by mundodeportivo, the midfielder says he had to weigh up many factors and that involving two of the world’s biggest clubs made the choice even tougher.

“Not easy”

Rodri admits that saying “no” to Real Madrid “wasn’t easy”, partly because of how the club treated him during the talks. In his words, Real Madrid “treated me so well” and were “class” with him throughout the discussions.

Even with that, he insists he based his call on sporting considerations, pointing to what excited him most and where he felt he could “win and grow” the most for his future as a player.

Mourinho’s call

He also reveals that José Mourinho reached out and expressed his desire for him to join the club, explaining what he could bring to the team. Rodri adds that once he made his decision, he called Mourinho to thank him for the interest and for the way he handled the process.

Finally, Rodri praises Mourinho as a tremendous coach, saying his track record across every club he has worked with backs that up.

The takeaway is straightforward: the move didn’t happen, but Rodri’s own account shows Real Madrid’s approach was respectful and well managed, even if, in the end, the player chose the sporting path he felt best aligned with his goals.