Rodri admits Real Madrid 'went all out' to sign him before Barcelona switch

Rodri breaks silence on summer tug-of-war

Rodri has admitted that choosing Barcelona over arch-rivals Real Madrid was far from straightforward, revealing that the Spanish capital club launched an all-out pursuit to prise him away from Manchester City this summer.

The 30-year-old former Ballon d'Or winner became the headline figure of the transfer window in his home country after both Barcelona and Real Madrid set their sights firmly on his signature. When Rodri made public his desire to leave Manchester City, Los Blancos were widely considered the clear favourites to strike a deal — but in the end his personal preference proved decisive.

The midfielder ultimately concluded that Hansi Flick's Barcelona setup was better suited to his characteristics than the alternative in Madrid, but he was keen to stress the respect he holds for how the Bernabéu club conducted itself.

'They came with everything they had'

Speaking during an interview with COPE, as cited by journalist Fabrizio Romano, Rodri lifted the lid on the extent of Real Madrid's interest:

“Real Madrid really tried hard. They wanted to sign me, we had direct talks and they came with everything they had to make it happen. They made my decision difficult. I am grateful. Speaking with Florentino Pérez too? I am not gonna say that.”

He expanded further on the conduct of those in positions of power at the Santiago Bernabéu, praising their approach even as it complicated his choice:

“Madrid showed interest from the very beginning, they behaved impeccably, and their offers were clearly aimed at signing the player, I want to make that clear. I don’t know what it means to be 100% committed, but it’s clear they were interested and went all out to show their interest, which I appreciate because I spoke with some of them. Did I speak with Florentino Pérez? I’ll keep that to myself. I spoke with people there who conveyed their enthusiasm and desire for me to go there, which made my decision more difficult.”

Seamless start at the Camp Nou

Rodri has since slotted in seamlessly for Hansi Flick's side, playing his part in a strong start to the campaign that has delivered eight straight wins. The Spain international's admission offers a revealing insight into one of the window's most high-profile storylines — and confirms just how close Real Madrid came to landing one of the game's elite midfielders before Barcelona swooped.