"No player who hesitates is needed," Mourinho tells Rodri about 'Barcelona transfer': "I had doubts"... 'Bold remarks' from the first day of his tenure

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Jose Mourinho (63), returning as head coach of Real Madrid, cited the player's 'hesitation' as the reason why Rodri (30), who was initially expected to join Real Madrid, ended up transferring to Barcelona.

Global sports outlet ESPN reported on the 18th (local time) that Mourinho made his first post-appointment remarks in an interview with the Spanish TV program 'El Chiringuito'.

On that day, Manager Mourinho signed a three-year contract alongside Florentino Pérez, Real Madrid's president. Coincidentally, on the same day, Barcelona announced it had acquired Ballon d'Or winner Rodri from Manchester City.

Manager Mourinho candidly explained the background behind abandoning the pursuit of Rodri. He stated, "The club made an excellent offer to Rodri. However, Rodri hesitated over the transfer, and that gave me doubts." He further added, "Rodri is an outstanding player, but Real Madrid does not accept players who reconsider joining us repeatedly. That is my principle," he cut sharply.

Manager Mourinho, returning to Real for the first time since 2013 after 13 years, currently evaluates the team's atmosphere positively. Real Madrid has missed out on major tournament titles for two consecutive seasons recently. Last season, the club endured internal turmoil, firing coaches Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa in succession amid locker room discord.

However, Manager Mourinho expressed satisfaction, saying, "The squad is sensible and possesses a strong desire to win. The players' attitude is perfect, so I have no need to step forward as an aggressive leader."

Regarding star striker Kylian Mbappé, he praised him as "a player on another level." On the team's poor performance last season, he shielded his predecessors by stating, "It was not solely one person's fault but the result of multiple complex factors."

Real Madrid restructured its squad this summer by signing six players: Marc Cucurella, Yann Djimouandé, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konaté, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espí. Regarding the possibility of further signings, Manager Mourinho drew a line, stating, "I am satisfied with the current squad." This effectively signaled that the team's composition has been finalized.

Real Madrid will begin its 2026-2027 La Liga campaign with an away match against Aespañol on the 22nd. The media reported, "Real Madrid's top priority is to stop Barcelona from winning three consecutive league titles and reclaim the championship trophy."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original