Story by Ángel Montoya
They claim that Real Madrid needed Rodri Hernández much more than Barcelona did.
The earthquake caused by Rodri’s imminent signing for Barcelona focused the debate on La Tribu on Radio MARCA. With Carlos Vicente Gómez “Chitu” at the helm of the program, the panel analyzed the sporting consequences of an operation that, for a large part of the contributors, deals a heavy blow to Real Madrid.
From the start of the program, the magnitude of the news was made clear. “These are not two pieces of good news for Real Madrid and one bad one; they are two bad ones: they are not signing Rodri, and on top of that he is going to sign for Barça,” he summed up, also referring to Vinicius’s contract renewal and the signing of Diomandé, which were overshadowed by the outcome of the Rodri case
Real Madrid needed Rodri more than Barcelona
One of the most forceful was Ricardo Rosety, who stated that Real Madrid has let a hard-to-repeat opportunity slip away. The journalist explained that, according to the information he had before starting his vacation, there was an agreement with the player that was practically closed and that only small details between the clubs were missing. However, he believes that the white-clad side never quite took the definitive step.
Real Madrid has not gone all out to sign Rodri. It has always been said that when Madrid want a footballer, there is no stopping them, and in this case I have the feeling that they have not stepped on the accelerator,” he stated. In addition, he recalled that the white club already let the opportunity to sign a top-level midfielder with Martín Zubimendi pass last summer.
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Rosety also argued that, from a strictly sporting point of view, José Mourinho’s team needed that profile more than Barcelona itself.
It is a capital error
Along the same lines, Nacho Labarga spoke out, describing the operation as a strategic failure for Real Madrid. The journalist recalled that the club had spent years looking for a replacement for the historic midfield formed by Kroos, Modric and Casemiro, and considers it incomprehensible that they let a footballer slip away whose cost would be around 60 or 70 million euros after his great World Cup.
“Madrid announces the most expensive signing in its history and Vinicius’s renewal, but Madrid fans are left with a feeling of defeat because Barça has taken the piece it really needed from them,” he pointed out, also warning that there does not seem to be a plan B to strengthen the midfield.’
A market that changes the landscape
During the discussion, it was also brought up that, before the World Cup, a significant part of the Madrid fanbase did not place Rodri among their priorities, a perception that changed radically after his extraordinary performance with the Spanish national team. The contributors agreed that the current context made this summer the ideal time to complete the signing, with the player being in the final year of his contract with Manchester City.
Regardless of whatever explanations Real Madrid may or may not offer, the feeling shared on La Tribu was clear: Barcelona are not only signing one of the best midfielders in the world, but are also dealing a blow to their great rival in one of the positions they most needed to strengthen.
