Rodri Apologizes to Valencia After 'Weak' Comment Surfaces in Barcelona's 5-0 Win

Rodri Offers Apology Following Controversial Remark During Barcelona's Victory

Barcelona midfielder Rodri has publicly apologised to Valencia and their captain Jose Gaya after cameras caught him referring to the La Liga side as "weak" during a commanding 5-0 win at Mestalla.

Incident Captured on Camera

The episode occurred during Barcelona’s dominant performance against Valencia, who remain at the bottom of the league standings. While the game itself was one-sided, attention turned to a moment on the visitors’ bench where Rodri was overheard speaking with teammates Pau Cubarsi and Raphinha.

Broadcast by Movistar with lip-reading technology, Rodri was heard saying, “They’re really weak (Valencia). They haven’t got past the halfway line.” This sparked criticism from Valencia supporters who felt the remarks were disrespectful given their current struggles.

Direct Apology to Captain Jose Gaya

Understanding the impact of his words, Rodri promptly reached out to Jose Gaya to apologise personally before the situation gained wider attention. He later addressed the issue publicly after Barcelona’s 5-1 Champions League win over Feyenoord.

“First and foremost, I’d like to apologise to anyone who may have felt offended. I had a phone call with my friend Jose Gaya and apologised to him and the whole squad,” Rodri said in a post-match interview.

Clarifying the Context

Rodri explained that his comments were an expression of surprise rather than mockery. “Anyone who watches the video can see that at no point did I intend to mock or take any team out of context. Quite the opposite,” he added, emphasising his respect for Valencia.

“I hope Valencia return to their rightful place as one of the best clubs in this league. It was a private conversation. We should all learn that sometimes things are taken out of context, but at no point did I intend to be disrespectful.”

Barcelona's Focus Returns to the Pitch

Despite the controversy, Barcelona’s form showed no signs of faltering as they cruised to a 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, powered by goals from Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal, a double from Raphinha, and Gabriel Jesus scoring on his debut.

With the apology made, Rodri and the team will now concentrate on their La Liga campaign, preparing for a Sunday clash against Levante as they aim to keep their perfect record and stay atop the league table.

• Upcoming fixtures:
• Sevilla vs Valencia: 11 Sept 2026, 21:00
• Levante vs Barcelona: 13 Sept 2026, 16:15