Madrid’s Mourinho shrugs off Rodri miss after his move to Barcelona: ‘I don’t need Rodri’

Madrid’s Mourinho shrugs off Rodri miss after his move to Barcelona: ‘I don’t need Rodri’ 1 of 3 | Mardrid’s head coach Jose Mourinho shouts, during a pre-season soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Aug. 16, 2026. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP) 2 of 3 | Barcelona’s Rodri poses with his jersey during his official presentation at a soccer press conference in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) 3 of 3 | Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid’s head coach Jose Mourinho reacts prior to the friendly soccer match between Ferencvaros TC and Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid in the Groupama Arena in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (Boglarka Bodnar/MTI via AP) 1 of 3 | Mardrid’s head coach Jose Mourinho shouts, during a pre-season soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Aug. 16, 2026. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP) 1 of 3 Mardrid’s head coach Jose Mourinho shouts, during a pre-season soccer match between FC Schalke 04 and Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, Aug. 16, 2026. (Bernd Thissen/dpa via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 3 | Barcelona’s Rodri poses with his jersey during his official presentation at a soccer press conference in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) 2 of 3 Barcelona’s Rodri poses with his jersey during his official presentation at a soccer press conference in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 3 | Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid’s head coach Jose Mourinho reacts prior to the friendly soccer match between Ferencvaros TC and Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid in the Groupama Arena in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (Boglarka Bodnar/MTI via AP) 3 of 3 Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid’s head coach Jose Mourinho reacts prior to the friendly soccer match between Ferencvaros TC and Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">Real Madrid in the Groupama Arena in Budapest, Hungary, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026. (Boglarka Bodnar/MTI via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Madrid (AP) — José Mourinho is confident Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">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 Madrid" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="1256" data-entity-type="organization">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.” 1 MIN READ 2 MIN READ 1 MIN READ After a second consecutive season without a major title, the club has bought players such as Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konaté, 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.___See AP’s full soccer coverage here Azzoni is a sports reporter based in Madrid in charge of Spain and Portugal for The Associated Press. He has covered multiple World Cups and Olympic Games for the AP, as well as other major sporting events worldwide.