Barcelona midfielder Rodri has apologised to Valencia's players and fans after disparaging remarks he made about the team's lack of quality were leaked to Spanish media.
Rodri, who left Manchester City to join Barcelona this summer after steering Spain to World Cup glory, was caught by television cameras ridiculing Valencia after he was substituted during Barcelona's 5-0 thrashing of the LaLiga side last Sunday.
Using enhanced audio and lip-reading technology, Spanish network Movistar deciphered Rodri describing Valencia as "really poor" after Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi asked for his opinion on the team.
Rodri came off against Valencia in the 62nd minute with Barcelona already 3-0 ahead. Cameras on the bench picked him up saying: "They're poor. They're really poor, eh? Man, they haven't even got over the midfield line in the second half."
Rodri's public apology
Before carrying out his post-match media duties following Barcelona's 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord on Wednesday, Rodri issued a public apology to Valencia and revealed he had phoned club captain Jose Gaya to make amends.
"In life when you make a mistake, you have to come out and ask for an apology," Rodri said. "I'd like to apologise to those who felt offended, to Valencia fans, players, anyone who felt offended by my words. I had a phone call with my friend and team-mate Jose and asked for forgiveness, I apologised to the whole squad."
"I'd also like to make clear that it was an expression of surprise. Anybody who sees the video can see that. At no time did I want to bully or take out of context any bad moment of any team - not at all," he added.
"We all want - or in my case I want - Valencia to get back to the place where it should be, which is being one of the best clubs in this league. Simply, wanted to say that. I'd also like to say it was a private conversation, and I think from there we should all learn a bit more that sometimes things are taken a bit out of context, but at no time did I mean any disrespect and I reiterate my apologies to Valencia Club de Futbol."
Rodri's career and Valencia ties
Rodri, the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner, an award given annually to the player judged the best in the world, started his career at Villarreal, one of Valencia's fiercest regional rivals, before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2018.
A year later he signed for Manchester City, where he went on to win four Premier League titles, two FA Cups, three League Cups and a Champions League trophy before his move to Barcelona this summer.
Barcelona's start to the season
Barcelona have enjoyed an excellent start to the season since Rodri's £65.4million switch to the Nou Camp, winning all four of their LaLiga matches so far to sit top of the table. LaLiga is Spain's top-flight football league, and the Champions League is UEFA's leading annual club competition, in which Barcelona beat Feyenoord 5-1 in midweek.
Barcelona travel to Levante on Sunday.
