Why Rodri Isn't Playing For Barcelona vs. Elche

Barcelona have the chance to respond to Real Madrid’s opening triumph of the 2026–27 La Liga season when they take on the newly promoted Elche on Sunday evening.

Carlos Espí’s 90th-minute strike ensured José Mourinho’s second stint in charge of Los Blancos started on a winning note, and it was Barça’s Catalan rivals, Espanyol, who succumbed.

While Madrid have done much this summer to try and ensure Barça’s reign of dominance doesn’t persist, the back-to-back Spanish champions will take some dethroning. Questions remain about an attack no longer boasting Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, but few have concerns about Hansi Flick’s engine room.

An already outstanding midfield has been improved by the blockbuster addition of Rodri, who had his choice of La Liga’s big two and was smitten by Barcelona after initial Madrid interest.

The arrival of this summer’s World Cup Golden Ball winner has not only tilted the early-season title projections in their favor, but has led some to believe that this may well be Barça’s year to bring their Champions League drought, 11 years and counting, to an end.

However, it’ll be a little while until Blaugrana supporters catch the blockbuster addition in action.

When Will Rodri Make His Barcelona Debut?

📋 The squad for our first league game!
✈️ #ElcheBarça pic.twitter.com/7lWCekrM6W
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) August 23, 2026

“I'm ready to play now,” Barcelona’s new $69 million signing said after his unveiling, despite undergoing back surgery after the World Cup. “The operation was nothing serious; it was an outpatient procedure.”

There had been a suggestion that Rodri would miss the opening weeks of the season as a result of the surgery, but it seems as if the Spaniard will make his Barcelona bow before long.

Still, Sunday’s fixture at Elche has come too soon. Rodri trained separately from the group in the buildup to the match, and wasn’t included on Flick’s matchday roster.

Gavi, Fermín López, Dani Olmo, Pedri, Marc Bernal and Brian Fariñas have been listed as Barça’s midfield options, with Frenkie de Jong potentially sidelined until November due to a knee ligament injury.

Rodri will be targeting a debut in Gameweek 2, as Barça host last season’s UEFA Conference League runner-up, Rayo Vallecano, on Monday, Aug. 31.

Thibaut Courtois Reacts to Rodri’s Real Madrid Snub

De Jong’s injury gave Barcelona a legitimate option to enter the midfield market, but their pursuit of Rodri was likely a preventative measure to ensure Real Madrid didn’t get their hands on him.

And Los Blancos have gone on the defensive in the aftermath, with Mourinho offering some vintage quips. The Madrid manager said Rodri would’ve been the “cherry on top” rather than a necessity, and said Rodri’s “doubts” about joining the club gave him doubts.

“I think Real Madrid are so big that we can’t have players who think twice,” he said.

That sentiment has been echoed by Madrid’s starting goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. The Belgian recovered from the injury he sustained at the World Cup to start between the posts against Espanyol and was asked about Rodri’s snub post-match.

In response, Courtois told reporters (via Live Score): “Every player chooses where he wants to be. If he [Rodri] did not want to be with us, then that is a shame for him. In the end, he is a great player, but he made his choice, and that’s the end of it.”

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