Mourinho blames Rodri's hesitation for failed Real Madrid move

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has explained why the club's deal for midfielder Rodri fell through, resulting in the player ultimately joining arch-rivals Barcelona.

In a television interview, Mourinho expressed his admiration for the players currently available to him and denied missing Rodri.

He added, "We have solutions, we have quality, we have players you can judge by their performances, but I trust my ability to develop players. A player at a certain level today can be a different player tomorrow."

He continued: "Rodri had doubts, he hesitated... and his doubts made me doubt. He is an exceptional player and would have fit in very well with us."