Rodri apologises to Valencia after Barça mockery

Rodri has apologised to Valencia captain José Gayà after making disparaging comments about the team during Barcelona’s 5-0 victory on Sunday. The Manchester City midfielder contacted Gayà personally to explain the circumstances and express regret over remarks that became public.

Television cameras from Movistar+ recorded Rodri speaking to Pau Cubarsí while seated beside him. He questioned Valencia’s quality, described the players in dismissive terms and pointed to their difficulty advancing beyond midfield during the second half. The comments were made as a private conversation with a team-mate but were later seen publicly.

Rodri told Gayà that the exchange had taken place in a relaxed, private setting and said he had not meant to insult Valencia or publicly challenge the team’s level. He also asked the captain to pass his apology to the rest of the squad. Gayà accepted the apology, while making clear that Rodri had been wrong to use those words.

The episode followed Barcelona’s emphatic result at Valencia and has left Rodri affected by the public interpretation of remarks he had not expected to leave the club’s internal environment. His apology was therefore directed not only to Gayà but to the entire Valencia dressing room.