Rodri was interviewed by Mundo Deportivo, and besides explaining why he ultimately chose Barcelona, Rodri also expressed gratitude for Real Madrid's interest, particularly towards Mourinho.

It's no secret that Real Madrid was interested in you. What made you decide to choose Barcelona's project?

First of all, I have to say that I was hoping for two or three weeks of quiet vacation, but that didn't happen. Making a decision this important between two of the best clubs in the world requires careful consideration of many factors. Ultimately, I made my decision based on sporting reasons, because Barcelona's project excited me more, and I felt that I could win more and develop further as a player there. It was by no means an easy decision, and it's not easy to turn down Real Madrid, especially considering the sincerity and exceptional grace they showed me. However, in the end, the management led by Deco and Flick convinced me.

Mourinho openly stated that he spoke with you. What did he say to you?

I don't think it's appropriate to disclose the contents of a private conversation, but he clearly expressed his desire for me to join and what I could bring to the team. We had a very pleasant conversation. After I made my decision, I also called him to thank him for his interest and the way he treated me. I think he's a great coach, and he's proven that during his years of success managing big clubs. Real Madrid will also be a strong opponent for us in La Liga this season.

How much do you think the rumors linking you to Enrique Riquelme (one of Real Madrid's presidential candidates at the time) cooled senior management's commitment to fully recruiting you?

Honestly, I completely disregarded those things because, if I remember correctly, that happened during the World Cup, when I was completely focused on being with my national team and trying to achieve the most important milestone I had reached up to that point.

It's also been said that this possibility faded because they boycotted the Ballon d'Or ceremony where you won the award in support of Vinicius.

As I said, that didn't affect me at that time because it was my day. I don't think it makes sense to talk about those who weren't there, those who didn't participate in the ceremony and didn't share that beautiful moment with me and my family. Those who know me know that I try to stay away from these kinds of things, far from the media circus. I just focus on football. In that regard, I'm very English, aren't I? Premier League football is pure football, nothing more.

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