Barcelona midfielder Rodri believes his new team possesses the quality to conquer Europe this season.

Rodri Tells Barcelona: Master the Big Moments to Conquer Europe

The Spanish international, who won the Champions League with Manchester City before his summer move to Catalonia, shared his insights on what it takes to lift the coveted trophy.

Rodri views the Champions League title as a realistic objective for the Blaugrana.

“I definitely see it as a feasible title,” he told Mundo Deportivo.

“It’s that little step we need to take to consolidate our position and show Europe what kind of team we are.”

However, the midfielder remains grounded about Barcelona’s current status. He acknowledges the team is not the favorite and must refine several aspects of their game to become genuine contenders.

The 28-year-old emphasizes that the Champions League is not simply about being the best team it’s about mastering crucial moments. He urges Barcelona to prioritize defensive stability over offensive flair in knockout stages.

“It’s about controlling those crucial moments in a knockout tie,” Rodri explained.

“Red cards, penalties, perhaps not conceding more than necessary. All of those things determine whether you advance or not.”

The Spanish star stresses that consistency and solidity often prove more valuable than relentless attacking play. He points to past champions as evidence that defensive discipline wins Europe’s elite competition.

Rodri also highlights the importance of experience in this journey. He notes that learning from defeats is essential before achieving victory.

“I’ve always said that before you win, you have to lose and you have to learn,” he added.

“I understand that there’s a learning process in that experience, and the players learn year after year.”

Barcelona opened their Champions League campaign impressively against Feyenoord. They now face a stern test against defending champions PSG.

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has given a new interview and says he thinks he deserves to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or award.

Lamine Yamal: I Deserve the 2026 Ballon d’Or, Not Mbappé

The teenager is one of 30 nominees but has previously said he “wouldn’t beg” for the prestigious prize. He’s now been asked about the award again and thinks there are just two names in the frame.

“Who would I give it to? The best player in the world. Who are they going to give it to?” he told Universo Valdano.

“Honestly, as the best in the world, I think maybe there are two of us, me and Mbappé, but I think I deserve it this year because of what I’ve won. Everyone who watches the games knows that.”

Yamal had a brilliant year with Barcelona, winning La Liga and Spanish Super Cup titles, and then went on to claim glory at the World Cup with Spain.

The Barcelona star has spoken about his performances at the World Cup which came after he missed the end of the league campaign due to injury.

“After winning the World Cup, I wasn’t happy. The injury is true, but it’s not the main issue,” he added.

“I did many things that people didn’t see.

For example, I think it’s incredible for the coach to have a player who can take on three opponents, but I wasn’t happy for myself because I know that another player with my level of performance would have had a great World Cup, but for me, I could have done more.

I did help the team, but I’m really looking forward to the next one.”

The winner of the Ballon d’Or will be announced on October 26, 2026

Barcelona midfielder Rodri has publicly apologised after footage emerged of him criticising Valencia during his side’s 5-0 La Liga victory last weekend.

Rodri says sorry to Valencia after footage emerges following Barcelona win

The 30-year-old, who joined Barcelona from Manchester City in a £65m summer move, starred as the Catalan giants began their Champions League campaign with a 5-1 win over Feyenoord at Camp Nou on Wednesday evening.

Raphinha scored twice, while Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal and Gabriel Jesus also found the net.

Hansi Flick’s team have now scored five goals in two consecutive matches, following their 5-0 win at Valencia’s Mestalla Stadium.

However, a video recorded by Movistar overshadowed the build-up to the Feyenoord match.

The clip showed Rodri telling Pau Cubarsi that Valencia looked weak and terrible, and he claimed they had not crossed the halfway line in the second half. The footage sparked widespread controversy.

⚽️🦇 Rodri es disculpa per les paraules a Mestalla

🗣️ “Li vaig demanar disculpes a Gayà, en nom de la plantilla”
🗣️ “Va ser una expressió de sorpresa”
🗣️ “Desitge que el @valenciacf torne al lloc que es mereix”

🔛 @apuntnoticies📺: https://t.co/AySGBr6cqU pic.twitter.com/DZbu2Asnq8

— À Punt Esports (@apuntesports) September 9, 2026

After the Feyenoord win, Rodri chose to address the incident before speaking about the match. He said he wanted to apologise to anyone who felt insulted, including players, fans and others.

He confirmed he had contacted his friend and colleague José Gayà and apologised to him and the entire Valencia squad.

Rodri explained that he made the comment out of surprise and never intended to mock Valencia or exploit a difficult moment. He added that people had taken his words out of context.

Rodri also wished Valencia a return to the position they deserve, describing them as one of the strongest clubs in Spain. He repeated his apology and said everyone should learn from the situation.

Turning to football, Rodri said the Champions League is Barcelona’s next step.

He stressed that the team wants to lift the trophy again but must take one step at a time. He warned that expecting five goals every game is unrealistic.

Barcelona next face Levante on Sunday, September 13, at the Estadi Ciutat de València, aiming for a fifth straight La Liga win.

Barcelona’s years-long search for a successor to Sergio Busquets may finally be over.

Thierry Henry: “With Rodri, Barça Have Found a New Busquets”

Thierry Henry, who played alongside the legendary midfielder at the Camp Nou, believes the club have found the closest possible heir in summer signing Rodri.

The French World Cup winner made the admission during a CBS Sports appearance, responding to Jamie Carragher’s question about whether Rodri surpasses Busquets.

Henry did not dodge the comparison. “I was just about to say that’s a great question,” he said.

“I would never have thought I’d see another Busquets. But today, with Rodri, Barça has found a new Busquets”.

Henry acknowledged the obvious distinction in individual accolades Busquets never won the Ballon d’Or, while Rodri has but stressed the transformative impact of the Spaniard’s presence.

“Yes, Busquets never won the Ballon d’Or, but with Rodri when he is fit the team is different,” Henry added.

The similarities between the two are unmistakable. Both possess outstanding positional intelligence, remain calm under pressure and control matches through intelligent distribution rather than reckless risk-taking.

Yet Rodri brings a different physical dimension, offering greater athleticism and power while carrying the ball more aggressively and contributing more regularly in the final third.

Many now describe him as “Busquets with more power” and a more complete midfielder.

Barcelona signed the 30-year-old from Manchester City this summer in a deal reportedly worth £65.4 million.

His arrival has already drawn inevitable comparisons to the man who defined the pivot role for a generation.

For Henry, who witnessed Busquets’ genius up close, the verdict is clear: Barcelona have found their new anchor.

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has opened up about the emotional challenge of parting ways with La Masia academy graduates, following a summer exodus that saw eight promising young talents leave the Catalan club.

“It Breaks My Heart”: Flick Opens Up on Painful La Masia Summer Exodus

The German coach confirmed that the decision to sell homegrown players, including Tommy Marques, Ansu Fati, Inaki Pena, Jofre Torrents, Hector Fort, Alvaro Cortes, and the Fernandez brothers Toni and Guille, alongside Marc Casado, was far from straightforward.

“For me, it’s not easy to let players from La Masia leave and tell them to go and improve,” Flick admitted during a press conference. “I know their dream is to play for Barça.”

The departures mark a significant shift in Barcelona’s squad composition, with Flick working closely with sporting director Deco to reshape the first-team roster.

The manager emphasized that these difficult decisions were made collectively with the club’s long-term objectives in mind.

“We work together at the club. We decided on signings with Deco,” Flick explained. “After the departures, we had to sign new players.”

Despite the emotional toll of moving on academy graduates, Flick remained resolute about the necessity of these changes.

“But here we want to win titles, raise the level of the team,” he stated. “For now, we’re doing well.”

The Barcelona boss acknowledged that his own playing career taught him the harsh realities of professional football, where difficult choices often define success.

While understanding the dreams of young players who have grown up in the club’s famed academy system, Flick insists these moves ultimately benefit both parties.

The club hasn’t completely abandoned its youth development philosophy, however.

Xavi Espart and Brian Farinas have both earned promotions to the senior squad this summer, while the coaching staff holds high hopes for emerging talents like Iu Martinez, Ebrima Tunkara, and Ibrahima Diarra to follow in their footsteps.

Flick’s balanced approach suggests Barcelona remains committed to nurturing homegrown talent while simultaneously pursuing immediate success through strategic recruitment.

The club’s ability to navigate this delicate balance could define their season ahead.

Newly signed Barcelona forward Gabriel Jesus has revealed he accepted a substantial pay cut to make his dream move to the Catalan giants a reality.

Gabriel Jesus Opens Up on Pay Cut: ‘This Is a Dream Come True’

The Brazilian international completed his shock transfer from Arsenal this week, with the Blaugrana securing his services for a cut-rate fee believed to be in the region of €10 million, potentially rising to €14 million with performance-related bonuses.

Jesus, who was earning approximately €300,000 per week at the Emirates Stadium, admitted the financial sacrifice was a necessary step to join the club he has always admired.

“I did take a significant pay cut, but for me, this is a dream,” the 29-year-old forward stated in his first public appearance since completing the move.

“It wasn’t just me; Barça made a huge effort to make this signing happen.”

The former Arsenal star’s new wages remain undisclosed, but reports suggest they align with Barcelona’s current salary structure.

For context, Ferran Torres, who occupies a similar role at the club, reportedly earns around €200,000 per week.

Jesus himself previously earned a little over €100,000 weekly during his time at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite lingering worries about his injury history, particularly regarding muscular and knee problems that saw him fall down the pecking order in London, Jesus projected unwavering confidence about his physical condition.

“I’m doing very well – physically, I’m in great shape. My knee is no longer an issue,” he assured.

“The situation regarding the injury is clear. The last two years have been very difficult; the knee injury kept me out for almost a year.”

The forward insisted he has fully recovered and is ready to justify Barcelona’s faith in him.

“I recovered really well and returned to playing at a high level with Arsenal. My knee and my body are in good shape and ready to give my best,” Jesus added.

The Catalans have taken something of a gamble on the injury-plagued striker, but Jesus appears determined to prove his worth and repay the club’s belief in him.