The Real Madrid legend who explodes after Rodri's snub: "It's a bad joke"'

The 2026 summer transfer market has been blown wide open by an information bombshell that has shaken the foundations of Spanish football. What seemed to be a move aimed at seeing the brand-new 2024 Ballon d'Orarrive at the Santiago Bernabéu has taken a dramatic and definitive turn.

In a lightning-fast move that has left Real Madrid fans bewildered, the Spanish international midfielder from Manchester City ended up opting for the offer from FC Barcelona, unleashing a wave of outrage around the Madrid club.

A historic blowup on the microphones

The reactions to the resounding failure of the operation have not been long in coming, with that of Fernando Morientes being one of the most forceful. During his appearance on the program El Partidazo de COPE, the former Real Madrid striker expressed his deep displeasure with the board of directors led by Florentino Pérez.

According to international outlets such as Tribuna.com and the COPE network itself, Morientes was blunt about the outcome of the case: "It's a tasteless joke. They take us for fools a bit. It's clear that tReal Madrid did not want Rodri," the Blancos legend stated without holding anything back.

The former goalscorer argued that an institution of Madrid's stature never lets decisive footballers slip away if there is truly a firm will to sign them. For the man from Sonseca, the passivity of the white club's hierarchy has been the key to the outcome.

Madrid doesn't fall asleep with this kind of footballers

Continuing with his harsh reflections, Morientes emphasized that the board is usually infallible when it sets an absolute priority in the market. "Madrid does not fall asleep in these kinds of situations. It may fall asleep over a 14-year-old right-back, but not over this type of player," he asserted in a critical tone.

The former footballer also responded to reports suggesting that it was Rodri himself who turned down Los Blancos because of the Blaugrana side's style of play, calling that version a media smokescreen.

To reinforce his stance, the former striker recalled the golden era of the "Galácticos" and how Florentino Pérez kept sealing one star signing after another without giving their rivals any time to react.

Galactics and wardrobe stories

'“When Madrid has gone after this type of signing, it has achieved it. Figo came, Zidane came, Owen came, Ronaldo came... Don’t come telling me now that Rodri wanted to play somewhere else,” Morientes concluded, evoking the negotiating mystique of the Merengue president.'

He even shared a personal memory during the negotiations for Ronaldo Nazário in 2002, revealing that Madrid always gets whoever it wants regardless of financial hurdles or obstacles that may appear along the way.

In his reading of the case, Morientes argued that Rodri "isn't stupid either" and that, upon sensing lukewarmness and doubts from the Bernabéu's top brass, he preferred to join a project at Barça that guaranteed him an immediate leading role.

Media firestorm and doubts about Florentino

Morientes' forcefulness reflects the widespread unease in the Madrid press, where various analysts have focused on Florentino Pérez's hesitations. Outlets such as Goal.com and ElDesmarque pointed out that there were doubts within the board about the midfielder's physical condition following his previous injuries.

Journalists like Siro López also showed their anger at the club's official version, demanding that they "not treat"Real Madrid fans like fools by selling the idea that the midfielder never wanted to wear white.

For their part, sports analysts insisted that the dressing room and the coaching staff saw Rodri as the ideal and indispensable replacement to fill the footballing void left by Toni Kroos's retirement.

Masterstroke in the Catalan capital

The outcome of the story not only exposes the internal discrepancies within Real Madrid, but also represents a huge strategic victory for Joan Laporta and the FC Barcelona board.

The Catalan club moved cautiously in negotiations with Manchester City to seal a deal that drastically strengthens its midfield with one of the best playmakers on the planet.

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