Barcelona midfielder Rodri has reportedly apologised personally to Valencia captain José Gayà following controversial comments he made about the club during Barcelona’s 5-0 victory at Mestalla.
Rodri was caught on camera speaking to teammate Pau Cubarsí while sitting on the Barcelona bench after being substituted during the match.
The Spanish midfielder appeared to criticise Valencia’s performance, describing the team as very weak and poor.
The comments quickly went viral on social media and sparked criticism from some Valencia supporters. However, reports indicate that Rodri did not intend to publicly insult the club or its players.
According to reports, Rodri has already contacted Gayà directly to apologise for his remarks. The Barcelona midfielder reportedly wanted to explain that his comments were made during a private conversation and were more a reaction to Valencia’s performance in the game than an attempt to disrespect the club.
Rodri has also reportedly spoken with other members of the Valencia squad as he moved to settle the issue.
The incident happened during a difficult afternoon for Valencia, who were comfortably beaten by Barcelona at Mestalla.
Lamine Yamal scored twice, while Fermín López, Raphinha and Pedri were also on target as Barcelona produced a dominant display.
Rodri later addressed the controversy and expressed regret over his choice of words. He explained that his reaction came from surprise at Valencia’s performance and insisted that he respects the club and hopes they can return to their former level.
