Rodri explains what convinced him to reject Real Madrid for Barcelona: ‘It was more about football itself’

Rodri explains what convinced him to reject Real Madrid for Barcelona: ‘It was more about football itself’ Rodri has revealed that Barcelona’s sporting project gave him more reason to choose the Catalan club over Real Madrid after deciding to leave Manchester City. The Barcelona summer signing discussed the move at length with Mundo Deportivo , explaining that his decision was influenced primarily by football rather than financial considerations or outside noise. The midfielder said his departure from Manchester City was itself a process before Barcelona emerged as the preferred destination. “It’s been a process, rather than a decision. First, you have to realise that your time there has come to an end and that you might want a new challenge. “From there, the moment the opportunity at Barcelona arose, I realised it was the best thing for me for many reasons. “I’ve always based my decisions on sporting considerations – where I believe I’ll be able to win, be happy and, above all, develop as a player.  “And that’s why I’ve chosen Barça – also because of the generation of players they have and what Hansi is building there.” Rodri reveals what swung the decision Notably, Real Madrid were always in the picture, making Rodri’s eventual choice particularly notable.  Rodri has explained what convinced him to join Barcelona. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) He acknowledged that turning down the Spanish giants was difficult, especially after the way they approached him. “I had to weigh up a lot of things and make such an important decision between two of the best clubs in the world. “In the end, I made my decision based on sporting considerations – on what sparked a bit more enthusiasm in me and on understanding where I could win and develop the most as a player. “It wasn’t an easy decision at all; saying no to Madrid isn’t easy, especially as they treated me exceptionally well.  “Ultimately, Deco and Hansi, at the top of the organisation, convinced me,” he explained. Barcelona’s football mattered more than figures Rodri also highlighted Barcelona’s approach. Rather than feeling pressured, he said the club made their desire clear while allowing him space to make the decision. For Rodri, the attraction was ultimately rooted in how Barcelona viewed his role within the team. “At no point did they put any pressure on me whatsoever; everyone expressed their desire to have me on board, to work together, and to see what I could bring to the team.” Rodri has made a strong impact under Hansi Flick. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) He added that the club’s “natural” approach made Barcelona feel “very homely, like a family club”. The midfielder then dismissed suggestions that Barcelona’s interest was primarily designed to undermine Real Madrid, insisting the appeal was footballing. “It was more about the football itself – what they understood I could bring both on and off the pitch – and I really liked that.” Rodri distances himself from Ballon d’Or controversy Rodri was also asked about Real Madrid’s Ballon d’Or boycott involving himself and Vinicius, and whether the episode influenced the transfer dynamic. The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner said he did not dwell on the issue, stressing that he prefers to avoid media hype and concentrate on football. “Anyone who knows me knows that I try to distance myself from that sort of thing, like the media hype.  “I focus on football. In that sense, I’m very English, aren’t I? The Premier League is football and little else,” he concluded.