Barcelona midfielder Rodri has apologised to Valencia after television footage appeared to show him describing the club's players as "very weak" during Barca's 5-0 victory at Mestalla.
The comments, made from the Barcelona bench, sparked a backlash after the footage was broadcast in Spain.
The Spain international was caught on camera speaking to Barcelona team-mate Pau Cubarsi after being substituted during Sunday's La Liga encounter, with footage appearing to show him repeatedly criticising Valencia's performance.
The comments quickly went viral, prompting Rodri to contact Valencia captain Jose Gaya before subsequently addressing the controversy publicly.
Rodri’s Comments About Valencia Caught on Camera
Barcelona produced a dominant display at Mestalla, cruising to a 5-0 victory over Valencia.
Rodri started the match and was substituted in the 61st minute, having provided an assist before taking his place on the bench.
It was there that cameras from Spanish programme El Día Después captured a conversation between Rodri and Cubarsí.
The Spaniard appeared to describe Valencia's players as "very weak" and "very bad", with the midfielder also expressing surprise at how little of a threat the hosts were posing.
The footage quickly spread across social media and attracted criticism from Valencia supporters, particularly given the club's difficult circumstances.
Rodri's comments were made during a private conversation with a team-mate that was subsequently captured and broadcast on television, but the broadcast footage brought them into the public eye.
Rodri Apologises to Jose Gaya and Valencia
Rather than allowing the controversy to grow, Rodri contacted Valencia captain Jose Gaya directly.
The pair know each other from their time together with the Spanish national team, and Rodri confirmed that he had apologised to Gayà and the entire Valencia squad.
The Barcelona midfielder then chose to address the incident publicly following his side's 5-1 Champions League victory over Feyenoord on Wednesday.
"First and foremost, I'd like to apologise to anyone who may have felt offended," he said.
Rodri explained that he had already spoken to Gaya and wanted his apology to extend to the whole Valencia dressing room.
"I had a phone call with my friend Jose Gaya and apologised to him and the whole squad."
His decision to speak publicly came after the footage had generated significant discussion in Spain.
Rodri Explains His Comments and Denies Mocking Valencia
While accepting that his words had caused offence, Rodri attempted to provide context around the conversation.
The 30-year-old said his comments were an expression of surprise at what he was seeing rather than an attempt to ridicule Valencia.
"I want to make it clear that it was an expression of surprise; anyone who watches the video can see that at no point did I intend to mock or take any team out of context."
Rodri also stressed his respect for Valencia and acknowledged the club's importance within Spanish football.
"I hope Valencia return to their rightful place as one of the best clubs in this league."
The midfielder added that the conversation had been private and suggested that the wider situation showed how comments from private conversations can be interpreted differently when recorded and broadcast.
"It was a private conversation. We should all learn that sometimes things are taken out of context, but at no point did I intend to be disrespectful."
Valencia’s Difficult Situation Adds Context to the Controversy
Rodri's comments came during a particularly difficult afternoon for Valencia.
The 5-0 defeat highlighted the gulf between the two sides, with Barcelona controlling the match from the outset and Valencia struggling to create a meaningful threat.
That made Rodri's remarks particularly uncomfortable for the home supporters, although the midfielder's subsequent apology has attempted to draw a line under the controversy.
He also acknowledged Valencia's history and stature within Spanish football, saying he hoped the club could return to the position it has traditionally occupied in LaLiga.
For Rodri, the incident now appears to be a case of accepting that his private comments were ill-judged, apologising directly to those involved and moving on.
Barcelona, meanwhile, followed up their victory at Mestalla with another emphatic result in Europe, beating Feyenoord 5-1 in their Champions League opener.
The focus for Rodri will now return to the pitch, but his comments about Valencia have given his impressive start to life at Barcelona an unexpected controversy.
