Mourinho insists victories are won on the pitch after Rodri snubs Real Madrid for Barcelona

Jose Mourinho shrugged off suggestions that Barcelona had scored a symbolic blow against Real Madrid by signing Rodri from Manchester City for £65 million, insisting that victories are only earned on the pitch.

The Spanish midfielder had been linked with a move to the Bernabeu earlier in the summer before performing a dramatic U-turn and joining Barcelona instead. When asked whether the signing represented a double victory for Barcelona, Mourinho was unmoved.

“Victories happen on the field; they’re the titles. That’s where the victories are,” the Real Madrid manager said.

Mourinho also revealed that he had spoken directly with Rodri during the process and that Real Madrid had made a competitive offer, but that the player’s hesitation ultimately became a factor in the club’s decision to move on.

“I spoke with him a couple of times. Real Madrid made him a very good offer,” Mourinho said. “Rodri had doubts, he doubted, and I think what happened is that the doubts Rodri had, gave me doubts. He’s an extraordinary player. But I think Real Madrid are so big that we can’t have players who think twice. That’s the concept. But he behaved properly with us, and I wish him well.”

Rodri, speaking at his Barcelona presentation, maintained that the Catalan club had always been his first choice despite the interest from Madrid. “Barcelona have always been a global benchmark for me, for their way of understanding football and their values. It is true that I had another proposal, but Barca were the first option and I told the board that,” he said.

Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick was effusive in his praise for the new signing, describing the 30-year-old as arguably the finest holding midfielder in the world. “He’s maybe the best No. 6 — he can control the game, but also helps a lot in defence, he wins duels in the air, which for us is very important. He increases the level of every player,” Flick said.

Rodri joined Manchester City from Atletico Madrid in 2019 and made 298 appearances for the club, winning four Premier League titles, the Champions League, two FA Cups and three League Cups. He was also awarded the Ballon d’Or during his time at the Etihad.