Why he said 'no': The real story behind Rodri snubbing Real Madrid

 How Barça stole Rodri: The secret negotiations that shattered a longtime childhood dream.

First of all, it is important to make one thing clear: yes, Rodri Hernández’s dream (Madrid, 1996) has always been to play for Real Madrid. But fate, in the first of the opportunities he had to join the white club, and a decision mulled over to exhaustion in the most recent one, which came this summer, meant that the Spanish midfielder ended up signing for Barcelona. Sometimes, this sport really is that strange. Because yes, global stars always play where they want to... but in this case, Rodri decided not to fulfill his dream. And here are some of the reasons behind a decision that Madrid fans will take a long time to forget.

First, it is necessary to explain the first opportunity in order to put everything into context. To do so, we have to go back to 2019. At that time, Rodri was an Atlético player… but Pep Guardiola’s City had set their sights on him. That summer, the midfielder waited until the last moment for an offer from Madrid to arrive. But at that time, with Kroos, Modric and Casemiro in their ranks, he was never a real option. So Rodri decided to pay his release clause to leave for Manchester. With hindsight, which always makes everything easier to analyze, it was the best decision of his life. The Spanish coach completely changed his sporting career and managed to bring out everything the midfielder had inside better than anyone else. And now, at the last minute.

Although the Madrid fanbase spent months loudly calling for the signing of Rodri this summer, Madrid was never fully convinced. Quite the opposite. It was not until after the Club World Cup final when, following all of Rodri’s masterclasses, the white house of cards completely collapsed in the face of the overwhelming evidence that this opportunity could not be allowed to pass by. Final year of his contract, the departure of Pep Guardiola (his continuity had always been key in not looking beyond Manchester), and a player who embodied much of what Madrid lacked. He became attainable… and there was no choice but to try. And that was perhaps the problem with everything: trying without absolute conviction. Something the player noticed.

A phrase in Valdebebas that someday someone will have to explain

Real Madrid got down to work after Spain’s second star. Florentino Pérez called him, José Ángel Sánchez did too… and that was it. Unusual in these cases, when the signing of a global star usually brings everything to a halt and involves everyone. And here we need to pause the story again. Because before those calls there were still far too many doubts inside the club. Of course Rodri would have been good for the squad and would have added a lot… but he was not exactly what they were looking for. Neither because of his age nor his footballing style. “He slows the ball down too much, it’s not what we’re looking for”, was the phrase that echoed loudly around Valdebebas. Incomprehensible, whichever way you look at it. They were looking for a more dynamic profile with more strength for the midfield. It seems Rodri’s numbers at the World Cup and his out-of-this-world record (he completed more passes than any other footballer in a single World Cup edition, with an accuracy rate above 93%) counted for nothing. But, as mentioned before, the opportunity arose and they tried.

And once again, the same point. Because when the excitement over a signing does not shine from day one, things do not happen the way they are supposed to happen. For example. Mourinho did call Cucurella... or Bernardo Silva, on several occasions, when Atlético were pushing to sign the Portuguese player. That is the difference: interest and the desire to sign someone who should be a key piece of the project. On the other side, Barça brought out all their heavy artillery. Deco called him, Laporta called him, Flick called him... and practically the entire squad. A little more and the club's groundskeeper would almost have picked up the phone to find out how high the Spanish midfielder would want the grass. But no, Rodri did not decide to sign because of a few phone calls.

A bombshell project and differences in the phone calls

It is also important to clarify that both teams' financial offer was the same. And that is perhaps what hurts Madrid fans the most. He is not leaving for money, but for the project. His football fits perfectly with Barça's style, which is the same as that of the world champion national team. And the project already has its entire foundation well built, with very clearly defined key pillars and a very marked hierarchy within the squad. At Madrid, on the other hand, the project is a ticking time bomb. Could it turn out to be a Rolex? Obviously, it's Madrid. But it could also explode ahead of time. And, at 30 years old, that uncertainty is difficult to accept, even more so when everyone on the other side has made moves to bring you in.

That is why, when Rodri was sure about it, the first thing he did was call Madrid, José Ángel Sánchez. To thank them for their interest, their respect and their courtesy (that was never lacking) and put an end to a soap opera the player never sought. And to wait for Barça to do its part with City, in a deal that required five offers before convincing the English club.

That is why, as the weeks went by, it became hard to understand how Madrid had let Rodri slip away. A footballer who kept putting off City’s contract renewal offers while waiting for a call that eventually came… but whose siren songs were never the ones he had dreamed of. Rodri always imagined himself walking through the Bernabéu’s front door and in front of fans who had always wanted him. Not as a market opportunity in the middle of a white-clad scenario loaded with a thousand doubts. Because Barça saw the same opportunity... and went all in.