Rodri Apologizes to Valencia for 'Very Weak' Comment

Rodri, a midfielder for Barcelona, issued an apology to Valencia captain Jose Gaya and the entire Valencia squad after television footage captured him allegedly calling Valencia “very weak” during a match. This incident occurred after Barcelona's 5-0 victory over Valencia at Mestalla Stadium on Sunday, which left Valencia at the bottom of the La Liga table without a win in their first four matches.

The comment, reportedly lip-read by broadcaster Movistar, drew criticism from Valencia fans and media for being disrespectful. Following Barcelona's 5-1 Champions League win over Feyenoord on Wednesday, Rodri confirmed he had apologized, stating, “I apologised to my friend and colleague Jose Gaya and to the entire squad as well.” He emphasized that his remark was an expression of surprise and not intended to mock Valencia, expressing a desire for the club to return to its competitive status in the league.

Rodri also defended the private nature of the conversation, asserting that it had been taken out of context.