Real Madrid legend reveals he tried to convince Rodri before Barcelona transfer: ‘I spoke to him…’

Real Madrid legend reveals he tried to convince Rodri before Barcelona transfer: ‘I spoke to him…’ One of the biggest stories of the Spanish summer transfer window was Real Madrid and Barcelona’s pursuit of Rodri. The Spanish midfielder appeared to be the ideal candidate to strengthen Jose Mourinho’s midfield, but despite Madrid’s efforts, he eventually chose to join Barcelona from Manchester City. Now, former Real Madrid captain Dani Carvajal has revealed that he personally attempted to persuade Rodri to move to the Santiago Bernabeu. Carvajal admits trying to convince Rodri Speaking on El Larguero on Cadena SER , the current Getafe defender discussed his involvement in the transfer saga. “I spoke to him and tried to convince him. I imagine there were others pushing him from the other side,” Carvajal said. The former Madrid captain also acknowledged that Rodri would have had his own reasons for choosing Barcelona. When asked whether Madrid could have benefited from signing Rodri, Carvajal agreed that he was an exceptional footballer who would improve any team. Carvajal tried convincing Rodri to choose Real Madrid. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) Rodri thanked Real Madrid for their approach during the transfer saga, admitting that they made his decision very difficult. Los Blancos eventually chose not to sign another midfielder after missing out on Rodri, focussing their efforts elsewhere. Real Madrid made a serious effort to sign Rodri Mourinho also spoke directly with the midfielder during negotiations, later revealing that Rodri’s hesitation had made him reconsider the move. The Portuguese manager maintained that Madrid needed players who were completely convinced about joining the club, even while acknowledging Rodri’s exceptional ability. Missing out on the Spaniard was undoubtedly disappointing. His positional intelligence, ability to control possession and defensive awareness would have been ideal for Madrid’s midfield. However, Sunday’s Clasico victory demonstrated that Madrid can compete against elite opposition without him. Rodri has joined Barcelona and become a key part of their team. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Rodri even warned his team ahead of the game not to underestimate Los Blancos and his fears proved to be true. Aurelien Tchouameni and Bernardo Silva helped Los Blancos outplay a Barcelona midfield with Rodri in it. While there is no doubting that Rodri would have been beneficial for Madrid, they cannot lose sleep over a player choosing another club. Ultimately, the important thing is that Jose Mourinho is capable of finding solutions regardless, and it remains to be seen how things play out.