Jose Mourinho, currently in his second stint as manager of Real Madrid, has publicly addressed the club's unsuccessful attempt to sign midfielder Rodri. Following Rodri’s official presentation at Barcelona—a transfer valued at €75 million from Manchester City—Mourinho revealed that Real Madrid had actively pursued the player. According to Mourinho, the club extended a significant offer to the Spanish captain, and he personally held discussions with him regarding a potential move to the Santiago Bernabéu.

However, the narrative surrounding why the deal failed differs between reports. While Al Jazeera frames the situation as Mourinho asserting that Real Madrid simply did not need the player, The Guardian provides a more detailed account of the negotiations. The Guardian reports that Mourinho felt Rodri displayed hesitation and doubt during their conversations, which led the manager to question the player's suitability for the team. Rodri, for his part, has publicly stated that joining Barcelona was his primary objective throughout the process.

Mourinho’s comments, made during an interview with the Spanish outlet El Chiringuito, emphasize that he remains confident in his current squad despite the high-profile loss of a target to their primary rivals. The discrepancy in reporting highlights a tension between the manager's public dismissal of the player's necessity and the reality of a failed recruitment effort that involved direct contact between the coach and the athlete.