Seen some people are still rattled by the media propaganda, so here's some actual quotes from the video. Yes, everything Fab posted was technically in the interview, but if you haven't watched the full version hopefully this helps a bit.
im starting from approx minute 33
Interviewer: "The most evident thing is the physical [change] in moving from La Liga to the Premier League."
Rodri: "I underwent a change at the physical level, but that is a consequence of the league. The league itself leads you to that physical change. It is more physical, for sure, 100%. It is the competitive rhythm that leads you to a physical change. If you are doing 13 or 14 kilometres per match at the pace the game is played, it ends up strengthening you… and maybe a little protein shake they give you there too, but no, I think the league is just more physical."
Interviewer: "In the last Champions League knockout, we had three duels: La Liga vs. Premier League. We were proud here that La Liga came out on top [Madrid beating City]"
Rodri: "To be honest, I don’t understand that comparison. I’ve talked about it with friends because, of course, they are all Madrid or Barca fans. I don’t think the level of the leagues should be measured by the level of the big teams. The big teams will always be big teams. Madrid and Atlético will always be at a very high level, just like City, United, Liverpool, or Arsenal. I think it should be measured by the overall total of all teams. [to compare you'd have to see] How it would be to put a Barcelona in the Premier League to compete, or put a Manchester City in the Spanish league. I think the [real] difference is more from 7th place to 20th."
Interviewer: "Would you like to return to play in Spain? In Madrid? In La Liga?"
Rodri: "I would like to return, yes, obviously. For me, the Spanish league is where I started… though I have to admit the Premier League is my weakness; I think it’s an exciting league, but at the same time very demanding, it pushes you to the limit. I’ve been there seven years now… but for now, I’m very happy there."
Interviewer: "Is the door to Real Madrid closed for you because you were an Atletico player?"
Rodri: "No, no… I don't know, many players have made that journey, right? And above all, not directly, but over time. For me, you cannot renounce the best clubs in the world."
Interviewer: "They say it because Madrid needs a central playmaker."
Rodri: "Well, maybe now they’ll say no because they beat us and they’ll say they’re doing just fine! I don’t know. It's a club I have always respected a lot… for me, playing at the Bernabeu is always incredible. It's a stadium that imposes itself."
Interviewer: "And you took the Ballon d'Or away from Vinicius… well, you finished first, he finished second. You won. They still remember that at the City stadium…"
Rodri: "Well, I think that’s part of a healthy rivalry that this Manchester City vs. Real Madrid has become. I’ve been in England seven years and played them six times… many knockout ties. It’s a natural, healthy competitive grudge, and nothing happens."
Interviewer: "Did you ever talk about it with Vinicius?"
Rodri: "No, no. I haven't spoken with him personally, never. But I remember the day at the Bernabeu – I think people wanted to pit us against each other, but I feel a profound admiration for Vinicius as a player and for what he did that year. I think it was a massive year for him too. In the end, it was other people [the voters] who decided that it should be me."
Interviewer: "I would have teased him! If it were Morata instead of Vini, you would have…"
Rodri: "Well, if it were Morata, yes! I would have given him a "collejita" (a slap on the back of the neck), of course. But I didn't have any problem with him [Vinicius]."
by zubairatif075
3 Comments
Fabricio Romano…
Thank you! I keep saying this, but he’s the captain of the Spanish national team, giving an interview in Spain, on an international break, in a World Cup year. He was always going to say nice things about Real Madrid. Would have said nice things about Barca too, if asked.
If anything this shows that he was defending the idea that the Premier League is overall stronger than La Liga, he just did it gracefully.
Also, the real problem was his entourage 😭
**Interviewer:** “They say Rodri is a ‘tío raro’ (weird guy). The usual stuff… tattoos – he doesn’t have any tattoos. Well, at least as far as we can see, on his arms, his neck… no tattoos. You’ve studied ADE (Business Administration)…”
**Rodri:** “Well, I am ‘atípico’ (atypical) in the profession I’ve dedicated myself to, but evidently…”
**Interviewer:** “But here’s another one: you sit down for this interview… the normal thing for a Ballon d’Or winner would be that your entourage, whom we’ve insisted with right up to the legal limit to get you to sit with us, didn’t say anything to us. I mean, they didn’t say to us: ‘Hey, don’t ask him about this,’ or ‘go this way instead,’ or ‘insist on this, it suits us if he says that.’ Nothing. They didn’t say anything.”
**Interviewer (2):** “They just said: ‘If he’s comfortable with you, you’ll be [talking] for a long time.'”
**Rodri:** “Well, yes, the truth is yes. Like I said, I like interviews where you feel comfortable. I think if you want to know something about a protagonist, making them feel comfortable is part of that. So, well… normally, I’ve rarely felt [uncomfortable].”
**Interviewer:** “Do you listen to them? Do you listen to interviews?”
**Rodri:** “Well, when I do an important one, yes. But not mine, others in general… little, to be honest. You already know I’m not much for social media. Some things reach me, evidently, but I try to occupy myself with other things.”