Marc Cucurella reveals he tried to convince Rodri to choose Real Madrid over Barcelona

Real Madrid defender Marc Cucurella has revealed that he sent a personal message to international teammate Rodri in an attempt to convince the midfielder to join him at the Santiago Bernabéu before he opted for a summer switch to Barcelona.

Rodri found himself at the centre of an intense transfer tug-of-war between La Liga's heavyweight rivals following his decision to conclude his successful stint with Manchester City. Both Barcelona and Real Madrid actively pursued the 30-year-old Spain international.

Ultimately, the move came down to personal preference, with Rodri choosing to sign terms with the Catalan club. However, prior to that decision becoming public, Cucurella made a discreet attempt to sway his compatriot toward the Spanish capital.

Speaking in an interview with El Larguero, Cucurella reflected on his communication with Rodri ahead of the transfer saga's conclusion.

“I sent him a subtle message before it [his decision] was known… I would have liked for him to be my teammate at Real Madrid,” Cucurella admitted.

Despite Cucurella's lobbying, Rodri chose Barcelona, setting up what promises to be an even more fiercely contested El Clásico rivalry this season.