27/08/2026
β Rodri, how are you feeling? You donβt lack experience in football, but I donβt know if this is one of those days that stays in your memory forever.
π£οΈ Rodri: Yes, making your debut with a new team and a new club is always special. Iβm happy and comfortable with how things went. Iβve only had a few training sessions, so it was important to play today and get some match rhythm. Iβm very happy with my debut and with the win. Weβve won both of our games, so itβs important to build rhythm and adapt to this great team. The first minutes were good and the feelings are positive.
β How did you experience everything since you decided to join BarΓ§a?
π£οΈ Rodri: Obviously, it was a long summer, perhaps longer than usual. I need to regain my fitness and rhythm quickly, but Iβm very happy with how things are going. This is where I wanted to be β€οΈ Now itβs time to work. There are some of the best players in the world here, so you always have to be at the required level. As I said, Iβm happy to be surrounded by such great players, but there is still a lot of room for improvement. This team can improve a lot, and weβll work on that.
β I remember the phrase, βLamine, keep working, brother.β Today Yamal had a great game, even without scoring and despite showing some frustration. Thereβs no need to tell Lamine anything else, right?
π£οΈ Rodri: No, no. Heβs incredible. He went through a period where he was perhaps a little frustrated, and we tried to lift his spirits. Today we saw the best version of Lamine. Even though he didnβt score, Iβm happy because thatβs what we need from him: the effort and perseverance. The goals will come because the talent is there.
β Barcelona have traditionally been known for the strength of their midfield. This season, thereβs a feeling that the team has a powerful engine in that area. Players like Marc Bernal, who may have surprised you, and of course playing alongside Pedri and FermΓn LΓ³pez, who is performing incredibly well β how do you see this midfield?
π£οΈ Rodri: Everything, everything. Obviously, the most important thing is that weβre all different and each player has their own qualities. That gives the coach many options and different ways of playing, and I think thatβs the most important thing. Of course, thereβs the high level, but also the great variety in the playersβ qualities, which gives us a lot of richness in our style of play.
β Youβre now part of the team and can start looking for continuous improvement. Perhaps all the noise surrounding an emotionally intense summer will finally end now.
π£οΈ Rodri: Yes, definitely. It was a very intense summer, but I have experience now and I try to distance myself from all of that. As you said, the most important thing now is to build up my rhythm because thatβs important, as well as adapting to a new competition and a new league for me. Iβm happy.
