Rodri Apologizes to Valencia After Criticism During Barcelona's 5-0 Victory

Rodri Issues Public Apology Following Comments About Valencia

Barcelona midfielder Rodri has apologized after cameras caught him referring to Valencia as "weak" during their recent La Liga clash, which ended in a 5-0 win for Barcelona.

Comments Caught on Camera Spark Backlash

During the match at Mestalla, where Barcelona dominated the game against a struggling Valencia side, television footage captured a private moment. Using lip-reading technology, broadcaster Movistar revealed Rodri’s remarks to teammates Pau Cubarsi and Raphinha. He reportedly said, “They’re really weak. They haven’t got past the halfway line.” This led to criticism from Valencia supporters who felt the comments were disrespectful given the team's current difficulties.

Personal Apology to Jose Gaya

After the incident, Rodri reached out directly to Valencia captain Jose Gaya to explain himself and express regret over his words. The midfielder wanted to address the situation before it escalated further.

Clarifying His Intentions Publicly

Following Barcelona’s 5-1 Champions League victory against Feyenoord, Rodri spoke to the media to clarify the context of his remarks. He said, “I’d like to apologize to anyone who may have been offended. I had a phone call with my friend Jose Gaya and apologized to him and the whole squad. It was an expression of surprise; anyone who watches the video can see that at no point did I intend to mock or take any team out of context. Quite the opposite.”

He also expressed hope for Valencia's return to form, adding, “I hope Valencia return to their rightful place as one of the best clubs in this league. It was a private conversation. We should all learn that sometimes things are taken out of context, but at no point did I intend to be disrespectful.”

Barcelona Continues Strong Run

The off-pitch drama didn’t affect Barcelona’s momentum. In the Champions League opener, they defeated Feyenoord 5-1, with goals from Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal, a double by Raphinha, and Gabriel Jesus scoring on his debut. Rodri was influential in midfield throughout the match.

With the apology made, Rodri and Barcelona will now focus on their upcoming domestic fixtures. Their next challenge is against Levante as they aim to keep their unbeaten start to the season and hold their lead atop the league table.

• Upcoming Fixtures:
• Sevilla vs Valencia: 11 Sept 2026, 21:00
• Levante vs Barcelona: 13 Sept 2026, 16:15