25/09/2026
Do you have the impression that you don't want to win the Ballon d'Or?
๐๏ธRodri: Do you think I don't want to win it? It's an award that doesn't depend on what a person comes out to say. It depends on what you do on the pitch, and on a jury of 100 journalists. And as I've always said, individual awards are a reward for collective work. And obviously, as a preference, I've always said that I want a Spanish player to win it. I would love to win it, but it doesn't depend on me.
How were these two months after the World Cup?
๐ Rodri: It was a phase full of excitement for me. There was a lot of euphoria and happiness because of winning the World Cup, and because I was able to prove to myself that I'm back to the highest level. I'm now starting a new phase with great enthusiasm. I'm very grateful to Barcelona, I've arrived at a very big club. I'm happy with how things went. It was an intense summer, but things have calmed down now, and I'm happy and proud to be here representing my country.
The backbone of the national team is from Barcelona?
๐๏ธRodri: In football, relationships between players are very important, and if you have a large number of players from the same club, it helps. But the national team includes everyone, and there always has to be a slight change in mentality. And I understand that having seven or eight players from the same club is considered very positive, especially when that club plays in a way very close to the national team's way of playing.
Is what De la Fuente asks of you very different from what Flick asks of you?
๐๏ธRodri: The coaches have some different details, but there are many very similar situations, especially regarding the role with Hansi. We defend differently than the national team, but in the end these two coaches ask you for very similar things: to lead through your positioning, through choosing your position, to start the press, and to start the build-up play.
How is the experience of living in Spain again?
๐๏ธRodri: I lived seven years in England, and I will miss a lot of things there. But at the same time, you return to your own country. I'm very happy to play my first match after returning in England and I hope it will be a big match tomorrow, and that we show the team that we are.
Guardiola said we will see the best version of Rodri this season?
๐๏ธRodri: It's about understanding how long a football player needs when he suffers an injury of this importance. Guardiola was a midfielder, and I don't remember if he went through such an injury, but recovery periods are what they are. At the moment we want everything immediately, but the body has its own stages and processes.
I understood that, and I mentally prepared myself for my goal to be to arrive at the World Cup in the best possible shape. And the reward for that work that no one sees, and with planning in this way... I'm grateful to Pep because he understood the process, and because he wasn't selfish and thinking only about the interest of the club. All of that led us to what we were able to see in the United States, Mexico and Canada. And I'm grateful to Manchester City and Pep for that. I'm happy with the process and the way of recovery.
