RESOLVING THE LEDGER
This is one outlet's own report from Forbes — the article as it was filed. Other outlets are covering the same event; open the full story to compare every source side by side.
See the full story · 2 sources
SportsMoney Real Madrid Coach Mourinho Makes Rodri Barcelona Confession And Confirms Two Injuries By Tom Sanderson ,
Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tom Sanderson has been primarily based in Barcelona since 2019. Follow Author Aug 21, 2026, 05:36am EDT Aug 21, 2026, 05:44am EDT --:-- / --:-- This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more . Summary Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho admitted he wanted to sign Rodri, who ultimately joined FC Barcelona, describing him as "the icing on the cake." Despite missing out on the World Cup's Best Player, Mourinho asserted Real Madrid's midfield, including Tchouameni, Camavinga, and Valverde, has no deficit, even after Kroos and Modric's exits. This confession highlights the intense rivalry, with Barcelona recently dominating domestic trophies. Mourinho also confirmed two injury absences for the Espanyol match: Endrick is out with a minor muscle injury, and Tchouameni will not start as he regains fitness, potentially forcing Camavinga into a pivot role.
Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho made a confession about new FC Barcelona signing Rodri and confirmed two injuries in his first press conference ahead of Espanyol.
The Catalans beat Madrid to the Spain captain and Best Player at the World Cup, after talks between his former club Manchester City and Los Blancos broke down.
Despite their shortcomings in that area of the park, however, since the departures of Toni Kroos and Luka Modric, Mourinho stated: “I don’t think we have a deficit in midfield.”
"Then you can come with the question of: 'If he doesn’t have a deficit, why did you want to sign Rodri?’. Rodri would have been like the icing on the cake. He is a great player, with great experience and great status. If you can have him, then we will have him and we will improve," Mourinho added.
“We have Tchouameni, Camavinga, Valverde, Bernardo, Arda; because I think that Arda in the end can also play in these positions. It’s not that we have a problem or that we have to go for another player,” the Portuguese also offered.
With Madrid finishing trophyless over the past two seasons while Barcelona mopped up five out of the six domestic trophies on offer, the battle for dominance in Spain can be won and lost in midfield.
We’ll see if Mourinho has something to counteract World Cup winners Pedri and Rodri, where Carlo Ancelotti , Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa couldn’t come up with answers.
With Espanyol on Saturday at the RCDE Stadium, his second La Liga debut as Real Madrid manager following a stint in the early 2010s, Mourinho confirmed that two players could miss the clash through injury while one of them definitely will.
“ Endrick won’t be called up for the match, he has a minor muscle injury. Tchouameni could be called up but will not be a starter, he needs training sessions to reach match rhythm due to the injury he had," Mourinho stated.
Though Endrick’s absence doesn’t change much in the grand scheme of things as Kylian Mbappe will probably be the striker, Tchouameni’s condition forces Mourinho to possibly choose Eduardo Camavinga as his Real Madrid pivot on Saturday night.
AIPROPX is an independent multi-source news index — we track, compare, and connect coverage from across the web into one place you won't find anywhere else.