Real Madrid are now six points behind FC Barcelona after seven rounds, with a clear difference in the level of the two teams, according to the newspaper "Mundo Deportivo", which pointed out that Rodri is one of the main reasons for the regret and disappointment within the royal club.
The newspaper explained that Real Madrid sees Rodri as the suitable solution to compensate for the departure of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, especially after two years without a player capable of organizing play in midfield. The club attempted to sign the Spanish midfielder last summer, and José Mourinho also sought to convince him of the team's project.
However, FC Barcelona's involvement in the transfer changed Rodri's stance, as he opted to move to the Catalan club and informed Mourinho of his decision after thanking him for his interest and treatment.
After failing to sign Rodri, Real Madrid relied on Bernardo Silva and Arda Güler, despite both leaning more towards attacking midfield roles rather than playmaking. In four away matches, Real Madrid lost to Real Betis and Atlético Madrid, and won against Espanyol and Elche with two goals in stoppage time.
In contrast, Rodri has quickly excelled with FC Barcelona, becoming one of the key midfielders alongside Pedri. The source noted that the player has transformed into a key figure in dictating the pace of play, aiding in building attacks, and providing solutions under pressure from opponents, in addition to his defensive contributions.
Rodri has become a fan favorite at FC Barcelona while Real Madrid feels regret for failing to convince the player to join them.
