Rodrigo Hernández Castante, wey many pipo sabi as Rodri, don tok why e join FC Barcelona dis summer. The 30-year-old midfielder left Manchester City and chose Barça ahead of Real Madrid. E tok am inside interview with Mundo Deportivo.
Rodri say the move na process, no be one quick decision. E thank Manchester City for seven years wey e call unforgettable for im career and personal life. E say when Barcelona option show, e know na best for am.
E explain say e always base im decision on sporting matter: where e go fit win, happy, and grow as player. Na why e bet on Barça, plus the generation of players and wetin Hansi dey build.
Real Madrid also wanted am. Rodri say no be easy to tell Madrid no, and e praise their exemplary behaviour. E say e analyze many things because two of best clubs in world dey involved.
E talk about how Deco and Hansi convince am. E say dem no put pressure. Dem just show desire to have am, wetin e go add, and dem treat am natural. E like the familiar club feeling. No be money matter; na football matter.
When dem ask if Barça move na to torpedo Madrid, e say no. E say e no dey convinced by numbers, but by football and wetin e fit bring on and off pitch.
E also address rumour about Enrique Riquelme. E say e live outside all that because e dey focused on national team during World Cup, wia e achieve biggest thing. About Ballon d'Or gala and Vinicius, e say e already tok say e no affect am because na im day and e no make sense to talk about pipo wey no dey ceremony. E dey focus on football. Premier na football and small more.
For Madrid side, Rodri call José Mourinho to thank am for interest and treatment. E call Mourinho great coach, say e don prove am for all e stages, and Real Madrid go be tough rival for La Liga.
For Barcelona, Flick don place am for double pivot with Pedri. Rodri say e comfortable to play with Pedri. E say pipo dey talk dem no work together, but Pedri hardly lose ball, dem go understand each other well and better.
E also comment on Lamine and Ballon d’Or. E say club choose Lamine because dem believe e deserve am most, and that na legitimate. E say na one of Ballon d’Or editions wey many players get merit.
