Florentino and Mourinho furious after losing Rodri to Barcelona | OneFootball

Real Madrid were left reeling as Rodri rejected them for Barcelona, infuriating Florentino Pérez and José Mourinho. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, a routine Thursday in Valdebebas turned fraught.

Pérez had not planned to move for Rodrigo Hernández and disliked his link to Enrique Riquelme’s candidacy, yet José Ángel Sánchez and Juni Calafat persuaded him after the midfielder’s World Cup.

Banker Anas Laghrari had argued Rodri, at 30 and with a knee injury, was not the right fit. Many fans then railed at the club for letting the World Cup’s Ballon d’Or go.

Mourinho’s anger was sharper. He was told the offer had been rejected, and executives said no further midfield signings are planned because the market lacks value in that role.

The coach must lean on Tchouaméni, Camavinga and Valverde, and repurpose Arda Güler and Bernardo Silva as a double pivot. It mirrors recent summers, which produced two barren seasons despite warnings from Carlo Ancelotti and Xabi Alonso.

Mourinho had seen Rodri as the final piece and still wants a defensive midfielder and another centre-back. He told Camavinga, Asencio and Mastantuono minutes would be scarce, yet the first two stayed as the Argentine left on loan to Fiorentina.

The dressing room were stunned, having expected Rodri to sign, and now expect to face him in Barcelona colours under Hansi Flick. Madrid travel today for a second pre-season friendly against Ferencváros on Saturday, while Vinícius marks his renewal and Diomande visits Valdebebas.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo

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