Barca’s Rodri apologises over Valencia ‘weak’ comments

Barcelona midfielder Rodri has expressed regret for describing Valencia as "very weak" during a televised exchange with team-mates. The incident occurred on the bench following a 5-0 league victory against Valencia, which left the La Liga strugglers at the bottom of the table. Despite the lack of audio, broadcaster Movistar claimed Rodri said, "They're really weak.

They haven't got past the halfway line." Spanish media and fans accused the 30-year-old, who won the golden ball as Spain won the 2026 World Cup, of being disrespectful. Rodri clarified that his comment was an expression of surprise, not mockery, and that his intention was to show support for Valencia's return to form. He emphasized that the conversation was private and stressed that the incident should not be taken out of context. Rodri apologized to the Valencia squad, expressing his desire for the club to succeed.