Rodri explained how tough it was to decline Real Madrid as he opened up on his decision to join Barcelona.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner joined Barca from Manchester City this summer.

Rodri was superb in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign, and he has slotted into a Barca team that have started the season in remarkable fashion.

Hansi Flick’s side have won all five of their matches, plundering 26 goals.

However, Rodri might well have ended up at Barca’s rivals, Madrid, but he chose to turn down Los Blancos.

“I would like to have had a more relaxed holiday this summer, but that was not the case,” Rodri told Mundo Deportivo.

“I had to analyse a lot of things and make a big decision between two of the best clubs in the world. In the end, I was guided by sporting aspects, by what excited me a little more and picking where I felt I could win and grow most as a player.

“It wasn’t easy at all. Saying no to Madrid is not easy, above all when their behaviour with me was exemplary. In the end, [Barca sporting director] Deco and Hansi convinced me.”

Jose Mourinho previously claimed he sensed doubts in Rodri’s commitment to joining Madrid, and that is why the proposRodri: Saying No To Real Madrid Was Not Easy

Rodri explained how tough it was to decline Real Madrid as he opened up on his decision to join Barcelona.

The 2024 Ballon d’Or winner joined Barca from Manchester City this summer.

Rodri was superb in Spain’s successful World Cup campaign, and he has slotted into a Barca team that have started the season in remarkable fashion.

Hansi Flick’s side have won all five of their matches, plundering 26 goals.

However, Rodri might well have ended up at Barca’s rivals, Madrid, but he chose to turn down Los Blancos.

“I would like to have had a more relaxed holiday this summer, but that was not the case,” Rodri told Mundo Deportivo.

“I had to analyse a lot of things and make a big decision between two of the best clubs in the world. In the end, I was guided by sporting aspects, by what excited me a little more and picking where I felt I could win and grow most as a player.

“It wasn’t easy at all. Saying no to Madrid is not easy, above all when their behaviour with me was exemplary. In the end, [Barca sporting director] Deco and Hansi convinced me.”

Jose Mourinho previously claimed he sensed doubts in Rodri’s commitment to joining Madrid, and that is why the proposed transfer broke down.

Rodri, who has now ticked beyond 100 LaLiga appearances, explained he spoke with Mourinho once his mind was made up.

“I don’t want to reveal a private conversation, but evidently he expressed his desire for me to go there and explained what he felt I would bring to the team.

“He was very good with me. When I made the decision, I also called him to thank him for the interest and the way he was with me.

“He is a great coach, he has demonstrated it across many years, and Real Madrid are going to be a tough rival in the league this season.”ed transfer broke down.

Rodri, who has now ticked beyond 100 LaLiga appearances, explained he spoke with Mourinho once his mind was made up.

“I don’t want to reveal a private conversation, but evidently he expressed his desire for me to go there and explained what he felt I would bring to the team.

“He was very good with me. When I made the decision, I also called him to thank him for the interest and the way he was with me.

“He is a great coach, he has demonstrated it across many years, and Real Madrid are going to be a tough rival in the league this season.”

36-year-old Germany Goalkeeper , Oliver Baumann will not be included in Jürgen Klopp’s first squad call-up for the upcoming Nations League matches report has indicated.

This marks another setback for Baumann’s international career, following his demotion to second-choice goalkeeper before the World Cup under Julian Nagelsmann. With Neuer’s departure, a vacancy has opened in the goalkeeping position, giving Baumann reason to hope for a recall.

Last Saturday, Baumann produced an excellent performance against Stuttgart. When asked about his prospects with new Germany coach Klopp after the match, the 36-year-old replied: “I have been in contact with him. He will talk about other things on Thursday.”

Baumann’s cautious smile suggested optimism, but it appears to have been premature.

According to reports, Klopp has decided against calling up Baumann for the four upcoming Nations League fixtures. Germany will face the Netherlands, Serbia, and Greece in these matches, with two of the encounters against Greece.

For the Hoffenheim veteran, this exclusion represents a significant blow to his international ambitions. Baumann has earned 13 caps for Germany, with eight appearances coming in 2025. Of these, he started in six World Cup qualifiers and kept four clean sheets.

With Baumann now overlooked for Klopp’s inaugural squad selection, his hopes of featuring in the 2028 European Championship in England have been dealt a considerable setback.

A police inspector identified as Henry Effiong, attached to the Imo State Police Command, has been gruesomely murdered while on guard duty at the residence of the state Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chief Bar Rex Anunobi, in New Owerri, Imo State.

The police inspector was reportedly killed by unknown assailants who also stole his service rifle and other personal belongings.

Report referenced a police situation report to the effect that the incident occurred at the commissioner’s residence located at No. 1 Sokom Villa Area E, New Owerri, on Monday, September 14, 2026.

The report stated that the commissioner contacted the police at about 8:00 a.m. after his housekeeper, identified as Solomon Uzobu, alerted him at about 7:00 a.m. that the police inspector deployed to his residence for guard duty had been murdered.

Following the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), New Owerri Police Division, reportedly mobilised officers to the residence, where preliminary investigations were conducted.

The police said the inspector was found murdered in his room, with his legs tied and his body positioned towards the bathing area.

A sharp object, suspected to be a machete, was allegedly used to kill him.

The police report also raised suspicion against a security guard attached to the residence, identified as Genesis, a native of Taraba State, who allegedly conspired with unknown assailants to gain access to the premises.

According to the report, investigators suspect that the security guard may have facilitated access to the residence, allowing the assailants to enter and attack the police inspector.

The security guard was said to have fled the residence shortly after the incident.

The police further alleged that Genesis packed his belongings, switched off his mobile phone and absconded from the area together with the suspected assailants.

His disappearance has reportedly heightened suspicion surrounding his possible involvement in the killing.

The police said an empty magazine and a walkie-talkie were recovered from the scene and handed over to the Area Commander, Operations (AC Ops), for further investigation.

The service rifle reportedly assigned to the murdered inspector was allegedly taken away by the assailants.

His mobile handset was also reportedly stolen.

The corpse of the deceased police inspector was evacuated to the Federal Teaching Hospital for preservation and further necessary procedures.

The police said efforts were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder, identify and arrest the suspected killers, locate the fleeing security guard and recover the stolen police firearm.

The command said further developments would be communicated as the investigation progresses.