One comment too many on the Barca bench
Rodri did not have to wait long for his first Spanish controversy. Subbed off during Barcelona’s 5-0 win at Valencia last Saturday, the midfielder was caught on the bench rating the opposition’s level. No filter, no care.
“Really soft, these guys are really soft… Really soft. They’re rubbish, mate! They’re really rubbish. They’re pathetic. What place did they finish in the table last season? They didn’t even get over the halfway line in the second half…”, he said.
The footage spread fast. The clip was replayed again and again in Spain, where lip-reading from the touchline has become almost a TV sport of its own.
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A phone call to Jose Luis Gaya
Rather than let it drag on, Rodri moved quickly to put the fire out himself. The World Cup winner called Jose Luis Gaya to apologise.
The Valencia captain is no stranger to him. The pair were named together in the 2022 World Cup squad in Qatar, before the left-back had to pull out through injury. That old connection made the call easier.
According to Sport, there was never any intent to wound or insult his opponents. The apology was enough to close the matter from Valencia’s side.
Every touch dissected since he landed in Catalonia
The context explains why the clip blew up. Signed this summer, Rodri is one of the biggest arrivals of the latest European transfer window. His first start, against Valencia, was widely praised.
Three days later, that same match has left him doing damage control. Barca are back in Champions League action on Wednesday against Feyenoord, with a midfielder who now knows exactly how closely every word is being watched.
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