Florentino and Mourinho angered as Rodri chooses Barcelona over Real Madrid | OneFootball

Rodrigo Hernández has rejected Real Madrid and reached an agreement with Barcelona, leaving Florentino Pérez and José Mourinho incensed, according to Superdeporte.

Pérez had not planned to sign Rodri and disliked his name being linked to Enrique Riquelme’s campaign, but José Ángel Sánchez, JAS, and Juni Calafat persuaded him after a strong World Cup.

Anas Laghrari, the president’s finance chief, argued Rodri was not the right profile, citing his age, 30, and a knee injury. Pérez then moved to close the deal, only for a late switch to Barça to overshadow Yan Diomande’s signing and prompting anger among supporters.

Mourinho was stunned to learn the offer had been rejected and was told the club do not plan further midfield signings, with the market lacking value in that role.

He must now lean on Tchouameni, Camavinga and Valverde, and repurpose Arda Guler and Bernardo Silva as a double pivot. It mirrors the past two seasons, which ended trophyless amid midfield shortages noted by Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso.

Mourinho had believed Rodri would complete the summer rebuild and still wants a defensive midfielder and another centre-back. He warned Camavinga, Asencio and Mastantuono about limited minutes, yet Camavinga and Asencio stayed while Mastantuono left on loan to Fiorentina.

The dressing room were surprised, many had expected Rodri, and will now see him in blaugrana under Flick. Madrid travel today for their second pre-season friendly on Saturday against Ferencvaros, with Vinícius marking his renewal and Diomande set to appear at Valdebebas.

Source: Superdeporte

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