Luis de la Fuente expected Rodri to join Real Madrid before Barcelona move | OneFootball

"It's true that I was surprised at first, but it's also true that I have a very good relationship with him and his entourage, and they kept me informed at certain times," Luis de la Fuente told El Larguero.

Rodri joined Barcelona after months of links to Real Madrid, returning to La Liga following his spell abroad.

"The most important thing is to see those top players playing in Spain. What surprises me is that I see so many players from this fantastic generation playing outside Spain. That’s why I’m celebrating the fact that they’ve come back and are raising the standard of Spanish football and the league," he said.

"Yes, of course they can, but we have to be aware that Pedri's playing style has changed a bit. And I said it at the World Cup: I prefer the Pedri from the national team, because it's not the same playing with one set of teammates versus another," he explained.

"Rodrigo makes you play differently; Pedri has to offer other things, and he does because he's so good. Having Rodrigo on the team is always good news, because he's the best in the world in his position. We're privileged to have that kind of relationship between us."

Source: Goal.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”