Rodri breaks silence on incident involving Barcelona star that sparked injury fears: ‘We know he is a hothead’ | OneFootball

Spain’s preparations for the World Cup briefly took an uncomfortable turn after an intense training-ground challenge involving Barcelona midfielder Gavi and Manchester City star Rodri became one of the most talked-about moments from the national team’s camp.

The incident attracted attention after footage showed Rodri in visible pain following a heavy challenge from the Barcelona youngster. 

Given the importance of both players to Spain’s ambitions, the moment sparked concern among supporters and coaching staff alike.

Fortunately for Spain, the situation did not lead to a serious injury, allowing the squad to continue preparations without a major setback.

Gavi’s competitive nature causes scare

Few players in world football approach every game with the same intensity as Gavi, and that competitive spirit was on display once again during Spain’s training session.

The Barcelona midfielder challenged for possession with his usual aggression, but on this occasion the tackle went wrong. 

The challenge caught Rodri heavily, leaving the Manchester City midfielder on the ground and requiring immediate attention from medical staff.

For a brief period, there was genuine concern around the training pitch because Rodri is one of the most important figures in Spain’s midfield setup, and any injury ahead of a major tournament would have represented a significant blow to the team’s plans.

As soon as Gavi realised the impact of the challenge, he reportedly apologised to his teammate while staff assessed the situation.

Rodri reveals what happened

Speaking later to El Larguero, Rodri addressed the challenge and offered his view on the situation. Looking back on the moment, the Spanish midfielder said,

Gavi has no head feelings towards Gavi. (Photo by Manuel Velasquez/Getty Images)

“Yeah, he really gave me a hard time. We all know Gavi’s a bit of a hothead. He doesn’t hold back. 

“That’s something we like about his personality, although we try to tell him that training sessions are different from matches. 

“I didn’t realise I was being filmed, but to be honest, I was absolutely gutted.”

Despite the painful challenge, Rodri’s comments clear the air that there are no hard feelings between the pair. 

Instead, he appeared to view the incident as a reflection of Gavi’s competitive character rather than any malicious intent, just as Spain coach Luis de la Fuente did.