Rodri shines at Barça while Roig reflects on his legacy at Villarreal
In the Barça dressing room, Madrid midfielder Rodrigo Hernández, known as Rodri, adjusts his shirt while the team moves at a shooting pace under Xavi’s direction. In an interview granted to , the president of Villarreal, Fernando Roig, recalled Rodri’s stint at his club and celebrated his success at Atlético de Madrid and Manchester City.
Rodri, a perfect signing for Barça
Rodri has fit 100 % into a Barça that is going like a shot, according to Roig himself. The player, who arrived at the club after succeeding at Atlético de Madrid and Manchester City, has shown a complete adaptation to the Catalan side’s style.
The memory of five years at Villarreal
Fernando Roig, who has been at the helm of Villarreal for 30 years – the longest presidency in Europe – noted that Rodri was with them for five years. “He wanted to progress and we were not going to stop him,” he said, recalling the midfielder’s departure to the Spanish capital.
The president praised the footballer saying: “Here we had a Ballon d’Or winner” and added that they keep very good memories of him, describing the relationship as “great.”
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A transition that culminated with the Ballon d’Or
After his stint at Atlético de Madrid, Rodri moved to Manchester City, where he won the Ballon d’Or. Roig expressed his pride in seeing the former player succeed at the World Cup.
The weight of the presidency and anxiety during matches
Roig confessed that, despite his long career, he still suffers during matches: “I don’t get nervous, it’s worse, I worry, I get very anxious.” He added that his son, Fernando Roig Negueroles, is now the chief executive officer and makes the key decisions.
Next challenge against Liverpool
Villarreal is preparing to face Liverpool at Anfield on Tuesday in the Champions League, its fifth encounter and third at the English stadium. Roig described the trip as “very stressful,” noting that he will watch the morning training, attend the under‑19 match and then the main game, flying back very late.
The president also recalled that, throughout his tenure, he has witnessed more than 1 000 matches and that the pressure remains present.