Marca: Rodri almost joined Real Madrid, but his childhood dream slipped away

According to Marca, Rodri had always dreamed of joining Real Madrid, but he ultimately chose to sign with Barcelona this summer for reasons Real Madrid fans will never forget.

First, it must be stated that Rodri always wanted to play for Real Madrid. However, fate—both in his first opportunity to join the Whites and in this summer’s carefully considered decision—led the Spanish midfielder to sign with Barcelona. Football can be strange sometimes. World-class players usually go where they want, but in this story, Rodri did not fulfill his dream. Here are some of the reasons why this decision is unforgettable for Real Madrid fans.

Before that, the first opportunity needs to be clarified. Back in 2019, Rodri was still an Atlético Madrid player, but Man City, coached by Guardiola, had already set their sights on him. That summer, the midfielder waited until the last minute, hoping for an offer from Real Madrid. But at the time, Real Madrid already had Kroos, Modrić, and Casemiro in their squad, so it was never a realistic option. Rodri therefore decided to move to Manchester. In hindsight, everything is easier to analyze, but that was the best decision of his life. Guardiola completely transformed his career and brought out his full potential.

This time, Real Madrid fans had been calling for Rodri’s signing for months this summer, but Real Madrid never truly considered it. Quite the opposite. It was not until after the World Cup final, following Rodri’s repeated stellar performances, that the Whites’ original thinking was completely overturned. The overwhelming evidence forced them not to miss this opportunity: his contract had only one year left, Guardiola was leaving, and the player filled much of what Real Madrid lacked. He was right there, and Real Madrid had no choice but to try to make a move. And perhaps that is where the problem lay: they tried without absolute conviction. The player felt it too.

A phrase from Valdebebas that someone will have to answer for, sooner or later

Real Madrid acted after Spain won its second star. Florentino Pérez and Carmona-Sánchez called him, and that was it. This was rare because signing a world-class player usually stops everything and involves all relevant parties. Here, we need to go one step further back in the story. Before those calls, there were still too many doubts within the Whites. Rodri would certainly strengthen the squad and contribute a great deal, but he did not fully align with Real Madrid's goals at the time, either in terms of age or playing style.

A saying circulated in Valdebebas: "He is too slow with the ball, that's not what we want." However you look at it, this is difficult to understand. The team wanted a more dynamic, stronger profile in midfield. Rodri's statistics at the World Cup, and his almost otherworldly record, seemed to have no effect: he completed more passes in a single World Cup than any other player, with a pass completion rate above 93%. But as mentioned before, he was right there, so Real Madrid still tried.

The problem comes back to the same point: when the enthusiasm for a signing isn't strong enough from day one, things don't happen as they should. For example, Mourinho did call Cucurella, and Bernardo Silva more than once, while Atlético Madrid were also pursuing the Portuguese. The difference is this: the desire and determination to sign the player who should be at the core of the plan. On the other side, Barcelona went all out. Deco, Laporta, Flick, and almost the entire squad called him. To exaggerate even more, the club's gardeners almost picked up the phone to ask the Spanish midfielder how high he wanted the grass cut. But no, Rodri did not decide to sign because of these calls.

A major project and the difference phone calls make.

Another point worth making is that the economic conditions offered by both clubs were the same. And this is perhaps what Real Madrid fans find most frustrating: he did not leave for money, but for the project. Rodri's playing style perfectly fits Barcelona's philosophy, a style also consistent with the World Champion Spanish team. Barcelona's project foundation is already in place, with clear key pillars and a well-defined hierarchy within the team. In contrast, Real Madrid's project is more like a ticking time bomb. Of course, Real Madrid can always create a Rolex, but it could also explode prematurely. For Rodri, who is already 30, this uncertainty is hard to accept, especially when everyone on the other side is doing everything to bring him over.

So, once Rodri had made up his mind, the first thing he did was call Real Madrid and José Ángel Sánchez to thank them for their interest, respect, and courtesy, which were never lacking, and then end this saga that he never actively created. Afterward, he waited for Barcelona to complete the deal with Man City, and it took five offers to persuade the English club to agree.

Therefore, as time passes, it becomes increasingly difficult to understand why Real Madrid missed out on Rodri. He had repeatedly postponed Man City's renewal offers, waiting for that final call, but those "temptations" were never what he had dreamed of. Rodri had always imagined walking into the Bernabéu as a protagonist, welcomed by fans who had always loved him, rather than arriving as a market opportunity in a Real Madrid environment full of countless doubts. Barcelona saw the same opportunity and went all out.

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