{"id":5330,"date":"2026-09-23T06:09:52","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T06:09:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=5330"},"modified":"2026-09-23T06:09:52","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T06:09:52","slug":"real-madrid-tearing-their-hair-out-as-rodri-becomes-key-barcelona-figure-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportbulletin.top\/?p=5330","title":{"rendered":"Real Madrid \u2018tearing their hair out\u2019 as Rodri becomes key Barcelona figure \u2013 report"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Real Madrid\u2019s decision to let Rodri<\/a> slip away is becoming difficult to stomach in the Spanish capital, with the midfielder already proving why Barcelona<\/a> were so determined to bring him to Catalonia.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Mundo Deportivo<\/a> reports that Madrid are \u201ctearing their hair out\u201d<\/em> over their failure to convince the Spain international, while Barcelona fans are enjoying the arrival of a player who has now established himself as one of Hansi Flick\u2019s most important pieces.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Seven La Liga<\/a> games into the season, the contrast could hardly be clearer<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Bar\u00e7a<\/em> sit six points ahead of Real Madrid and have produced the kind of attacking football that has earned widespread praise, while Mourinho\u2019s side continue to face questions over their performances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Rodri already looks at home in Barcelona<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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The biggest encouragement for Barcelona is that Rodri has needed very little time to settle.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rodri chose Barcelona over Real Madrid. (Photo by David Ramos\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The midfielder arrived with a huge reputation following his Manchester City spell, and his early performances have shown that his value extends well beyond controlling possession.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rodri has become the link between Barcelona\u2019s defence and midfield, offering himself as an outlet when opponents press and helping the centre-backs start attacks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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He can also drop deeper when Bar\u00e7a<\/em> need greater defensive protection, as demonstrated during the recent victory at Sevilla<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Alongside Pedri, he has given Flick a midfield pairing capable of controlling games while allowing the players ahead of them greater freedom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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His adaptation away from the pitch has been just as smooth because Rodri already knew many members of the Spanish national team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Barcelona got the midfielder Real Madrid needed<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Real Madrid are regretting not making an effort to sign Rodri. (Photo by Alex Caparros\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The irony is hard to ignore: Real Madrid spent two seasons without a natural successor to Toni Kroos after the German\u2019s retirement in 2024, and Luka Modric subsequently departed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Rodri was widely viewed by Madrid fans as the ideal answer. In fact, Mourinho also tried to convince him<\/a> to choose the Bernabeu, but Rodri ultimately decided that Barcelona was the right destination.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Notably, the midfielder personally contacted Mourinho after making his decision to thank him for the interest and explain that he had chosen Bar\u00e7a.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Madrid then moved towards Bernardo Silva rather than finding a direct replacement for the playmaking qualities they had lost.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Barcelona, meanwhile, got the player they wanted most, making his excellent start particularly satisfying.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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