Mourinho Reveals Why Rodri Would Have Completed Real Madrid’s Midfield
Real Madrid head coach Jose Mourinho has admitted that Rodri would have added another dimension to his squad, describing the Spain international as the “icing on the cake” after Madrid missed out on his signing to Barcelona.
Rodri was a target for Madrid during the summer, but Barcelona won the race for the Manchester City midfielder in a deal worth around €70 million plus add-ons.
“He would have been the icing on the cake. He’s a great player, he’s a footballer with experience and status,” Mourinho said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Madrid’s La Liga opener against Espanyol.
The Portuguese coach, however, insisted that Madrid already have considerable strength in midfield. He specifically highlighted Aurélien Tchouaméni, Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Arda Güler as options available to him.
Rodri’s move to Barcelona means Mourinho will instead have to build his midfield around the players already at his disposal as Madrid attempt to reclaim the La Liga title from their fiercest rivals.
Mourinho Begins Second Madrid Chapter
Mourinho is beginning his second spell at Real Madrid, having previously managed the club between 2010 and 2013. His first tenure delivered three trophies, including the 2011/12 La Liga title, when Madrid reached 100 points and ended Barcelona’s dominance under Pep Guardiola.
The club have strengthened significantly ahead of Mourinho’s return, with Marc Cucurella, Denzel Dumfries, Ibrahima Konaté and Bernardo Silva among the notable arrivals. Madrid will also be targeting a record-extending 16th Champions League title alongside their domestic ambitions.
With Barcelona having won La Liga in consecutive seasons, Mourinho’s immediate challenge is to restore Madrid’s dominance in Spain.
Missing Rodri may have denied him his preferred midfield addition, but the veteran coach now has the responsibility of proving that his rebuilt squad is strong enough to bring the Spanish title back to the Santiago Bernabéu.