Dani Rodríguez Addresses Controversy Surrounding His Departure from Mallorca

omidbasir- Dani Rodríguez, the newly signed player for Leganés, recently appeared on ‘El Partidazo de Cope’ to discuss the contentious circumstances surrounding his departure from Mallorca. The Betanzos native voiced his criticism on social media regarding head coach Jagoba Arrasate’s decision to bench him during a match at the Bernabéu, which led to his exclusion from the team and a 10-day suspension without pay. Additionally, he was stripped of his captaincy, and following this incident, Rodríguez did not feature again for the club. Ultimately, he rescinded his contract and secured a move to Leganés during the winter transfer window.

Months after the upheaval, Rodríguez offered his perspective on the events. He acknowledged his misjudgment in expressing his frustration over the inclusion of a new player, Virgili, in the lineup against Real Madrid but emphasized, “I did not harm anyone.”

Breaking his silence, he stated, “I couldn’t speak up… I appreciate the opportunity to clarify something that I couldn’t address over the past four months. This situation goes beyond simply not playing. After seven and a half seasons, four months without playing was not merely a tantrum over not being on the field at the Bernabéu. My time at Mallorca officially ended on September 1. It doesn’t take much intelligence to see what transpired.”

Reflecting on his social media message regarding his benching, he admitted, “I was wrong at that moment, letting my emotions dictate my words. I have no issues with any teammates; my comments referred to deeper issues that were misinterpreted due to my mistake.”

He conveyed his sentiments about Arrasate’s management, saying, “After so many seasons at the club, and being proud of the group I had built, it was disheartening to see it deteriorate and not be handled effectively… I cannot name names, but that was my concern at the time.”

Rodríguez has since offered personal apologies to his teammates and to Arrasate. He noted that the coach reacted negatively but accepted the apologies, informing Rodríguez that he could not alter his decision regarding playing time.

“I have learned a lot about life, friendships, and those who are genuinely there for you… Many people have let me down… I tweeted in a moment of anger, but I did not harm anyone. I did not gamble, use performance-enhancing drugs, or insult anyone… Yet it felt as if I had committed a grave offense.”

The impact on his family was significant, as he shared, “My middle child expressed his desire to leave Mallorca, not understanding why I wasn’t playing. This was a turning point for me, leading to my decision to seek a new team.”

Additionally, Rodríguez addressed the incident during the Supercopa, where the families of Mallorca players felt unsupported after facing insults in Yeda. He remarked, “I did not feel backed by the club. All I asked was for the club to condemn the actions, nothing more.”