In a COPE broadcast, there was discussion about Rodri's "attacking comments" regarding Valencia. COPE noted that Rodri's words were "not malicious" and that he wants to apologize.

COPE discusses Rodri's remarks

I want to say something: clearly this is Rodri's mistake. First, on the day the Barcelona starting lineup was announced, he acted naively, even though he knew there could be 20 cameras pointed at him from the substitute's bench.

But after reviewing the footage, I have to be honest, I don't think there was any malice in what he said, nor any intent to mock Valencia in his words and actions—he wasn't mocking Valencia. If that were the case, I wouldn't need to defend Rodri.

Actually, his words leaned more toward surprise—like saying, "This situation is really poor." It's like a player who's been in the Premier League for years suddenly discovering a Valencia team completely unfamiliar to him. I truly believe this, especially since many are saying: "If Vinicius did this, if Vinicius did this, we'd certainly criticize him harshly."

But listen, if he really did that with... the body language he displayed, people would have torn him apart long ago. I want to emphasize this, and I want to stress that this comes entirely from a love of football: how many times in your academy team matches do you tell your teammates, "These guys are terrible, absolutely awful," or even "They can't even get past midfield"?

So I want to say, I really don't think there was any mocking intent in Rodri's body language. But such behavior ultimately works against him. This kind of action is both footballing spirit and not good for him—like when he sits down and tells his teammates, "That damned Valencia winger is tearing us apart." Saying things like that is very much football. However, I think this strips away Rodri's humility, like his celebration at the Ballon d'Or ceremony—when he laughed and sang, mocking his biggest rival Vinicius, "Vinicius Ballon d'Or," "Vinicius Ballon d'Or."

In my view, both instances are major mistakes, and they've stripped away his humility. Now he's become a super-level "football fan," like sitting down and complaining about how bad the referee is or calling someone a bastard. But if the outside world is really saying that, then let him go out and explain himself.

Okay, this is the second part, and what I want to say is: Rodri is upset, he's disappointed about this situation, he's disappointed because he's hurt his teammates and the fans who were cheering for him just seconds before, and this is really bothering him. In other words, Rodri is still like that. In other words, the fans might think like him. You know what I mean? It's difficult when others speak badly of people close to you.

Today, Valencia fans aren't too angry. Now, for example, Javi Guerra might say: "Damn, I really admire him for doing that to his teammate." What I mean is, he's disappointed about both things—about his former teammates and about the fans who were applauding him before.

Rodri has mentioned that gesture before, saying, "Well, the warm applause I received at Mestalla." Rodri wants to apologize, and he should apologize and explain that it was a mistake he made. And Rodri doesn't have two official social media accounts, let alone any other social media accounts.

Apart from making statements through the media, he has no contact with the outside world. What's happening? Because Barcelona has tacitly allowed this to happen, and Rodri wants to apologize.

I think if tomorrow Barcelona's press officer tells Rodri "No, don't go out," he should say: "Listen, I'm still going out because I have to." This can't be decided by a press director who just met Rodri 10 minutes ago. Because Rodri only just joined Barcelona 10 minutes ago.

Moreover, Rodri is a world champion, a Ballon d'Or winner, and a European champion. In this country, he's more than just a Barcelona player. Rodri is more than a Barcelona player because he's the captain of Spain's national team.

So tomorrow after Rodri's match, he'll go to the interview area as usual, or I don't know what he'll do, but he'll explain himself, and that's what Rodri should do.

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