They're weak, they're terrible! Barca star's hot-mic rant forces apology to Valencia
Barcelona's 5-0 demolition of Valencia had an ugly postscript, and now Rodri has had to pick up the phone to say sorry.
Details: The Barcelona midfielder was caught on camera on the Mestalla bench branding Valencia's players really weak and terrible, adding they had not even crossed the halfway line in the second half. The footage was deleted but the quotes, broadcast by Movistar, spread everywhere, and Rodri has since contacted Valencia captain Jose Gaya to apologize, according to reports.
The incident is jarring because it comes from a player with a reputation for grace, and at the worst possible moment for Valencia, who sit bottom of La Liga with a single point from four games. Carlos Corberan's side were swept aside by Barca's new-look side, with the 2024 Ballon d'Or winner pulling the strings in midfield. It is not the first apology of Rodri's year either: at the World Cup he had to say sorry to former teammate Bernardo Silva after a provocative celebration at the end of Spain's win over Portugal. Hansi Flick, who praised Rodri after the Valencia rout, will hope his midfielder's mouth stops generating headlines, because Barcelona's football, top of La Liga with 12 points from four, is doing quite enough talking on its own.
It's worth noting that Valencia have avoided defeat just once this season, a goalless home draw with Celta Vigo, which is precisely why Rodri's words cut so deep at Mestalla.
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Miguel Solomons
Dailysports's expert
