José Mourinho is confident Real Madrid will be fine without Rodri despite admitting the club made “a very good offer” to try to sign the Spain captain.
Rodri officially signed with Madrid rival Barcelona after a transfer from Manchester City on Tuesday.
Mourinho, back with Madrid for a second stint, said he spoke twice with Rodri as Madrid considered adding the World Cup’s best player to its squad, but felt the midfielder didn’t seem certain about his future.
“The club contacted him but he had some doubts,” Mourinho said in an interview to TV show “El Chiringuito” late Tuesday. “What I think happened is that his doubts have created doubts for me. He’s an extraordinary player and was very correct with us. But I think Real Madrid is of such a stature that it can’t have players who think twice about being with the club.”
Just hours before Rodri’s signing was made official by Barcelona on Tuesday, Mourinho was officially presented by Madrid in an unusual ceremony closed to the media and fans.
Mourinho, who was hired in June and took over in July at the start of the preseason, downplayed the importance of Rodri to Madrid.
“I don’t need Rodri. We have solutions, quality players,” Mourinho said, adding that he didn’t think Barcelona got the best of Madrid by signing the midfielder. “Victories are won on the field, they are won with titles.”
After a second consecutive season without a major title, the club has bought players such as Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva and Yan Diomande.
Mourinho said the club does not intend to make new signings.
“I’m not saying there won’t be any more signings because the market is still open, but if you ask me directly if it’s closed (for Madrid), yes, it’s closed,” he said.
Madrid opens in La Liga on Saturday at Espanyol.
Reporting by The Associated Press.
