Jose Mourinho has expressed confidence that Real Madrid will cope without Rodri, despite acknowledging that the club made a 'very good offer' in an attempt to sign the Spain captain. Rodri officially joined Barcelona from Manchester City on Tuesday, a move that sent shockwaves through Spanish football.

Mourinho, back for a second spell at Madrid, revealed that he spoke twice with Rodri during the transfer saga. However, he sensed the midfielder's uncertainty about his future. 'The club contacted him, but he had some doubts,' Mourinho told El Chiringuito. 'His doubts created doubts for me. He's an extraordinary player and was very correct with us. But Real Madrid is of such stature that it cannot have players who think twice about being with the club.'

The timing was notable: just hours before Barcelona made Rodri's signing official, Mourinho was presented as Madrid's manager in an unusual ceremony closed to media and fans. The Portuguese coach downplayed the significance of Rodri's departure, insisting that the squad has enough quality. 'I don't need Rodri. We have solutions, quality players. Victories are won on the field; they are won with titles,' he said.

Madrid, coming off a second consecutive season without a major trophy, has already strengthened this summer with the acquisitions of Marc Cucurella, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, Bernardo Silva, and Yan Diomande. Mourinho declared that the club's transfer business is effectively closed, though he left a tiny window open. 'I'm not saying there won't be any more signings because the market is still open, but if you ask me directly if it's closed for Madrid, yes, it's closed,' he stated.

Real Madrid will begin their La Liga campaign on Saturday away at Espanyol, with Mourinho aiming to restore the club's dominance. The decision to let Rodri slip to Barcelona could prove pivotal in the title race, but Mourinho remains defiant, focusing on the collective strength of his squad.

Source: www.aljazeera.com