Shillong: Jose Mourinho confirmed that Real Madrid failed to sign Spain midfielder Rodrigo Hernandez Cascante, known as Rodri, after the player wavered during negotiations. Barcelona announced the deal on Tuesday, locking the 30-year-old into a contract running until the summer of 2030. Rodri arrives in Catalonia following six seasons at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. He is both the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner and the 2026 World Cup Golden Ball recipient.
Mourinho revealed to El Chiringuito that Real Madrid approached the player directly without initial talks with Manchester City. The club put a major offer on the table. The deal stalled when the midfielder expressed internal conflict. "I spoke to him a couple of times and Real Madrid made him a very good offer," Mourinho said. "Rodri had doubts, he hesitated and Rodri's doubts created doubts for me."
The Madrid manager maintained that the club requires total commitment from its stars. He noted that the squad cannot tolerate anyone who second-guesses their move to the Bernabeu. Despite the setback, Mourinho expressed no regrets about the missing transfer. He claimed the team does not suffer from his absence and stated the current roster is complete. While the market remains open for other clubs, Mourinho considers his own business finished. He trusts the players currently in his locker room to deliver results this season.
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