Courtois slams Rodri Barcelona move: Real Madrid keeper vents after Espanyol win

Rodri's Decision Spurs Courtois Reaction

Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois did not hold back when asked about Rodri Hernández's summer transfer to FC Barcelona. Speaking to the press immediately after Madrid's 3-0 victory over Espanyol on 24 August 2026, the Belgian international called the decision "a pity for him." Courtois stated, "Every player chooses where they want to be. If he hasn't wanted to be with us, well, that's a pity for him. At the end of the day, he's a great player, but he's made his choice and that's that." The comments came as Madrid secured all three points at the RCDE Stadium, with Courtois keeping a clean sheet in the win.

Espanyol Referee Controversy

Courtois also used the post-match platform to address a social media controversy involving Espanyol. The Catalan club had tweeted wondering why Real forward Vinícius Júnior was not shown a second yellow card late in the encounter. The Belgian shot-stopper fired back, saying, "I'd love to see all the tweets the teams make against us when they play against other teams. If we're talking about this rule, Cala should've been sent off earlier; the kick to the back, the yellow with Vini, the first foul in the second half on Carreras that, if he didn't have a yellow, the ref would've given him a yellow one hundred percent. First, you gotta look in the mirror and see what's happening in a game with your players." The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between the Madrid and Espanyol camps regarding officiating consistency.

Goalkeeping Perspective on the Season

Beyond the Rodri and refereeing topics, Courtois offered his standard assessment of Madrid's early campaign. The 33-year-old shot-stopper has been a mainstay between the posts, and his presence was again evident against Espanyol, where he made several key saves to preserve the clean sheet. When asked about the team's defensive shape moving forward, Courtois emphasized the need for collective responsibility, noting that the back line's organization starts with communication and concentration throughout the 90 minutes.

Key Takeaways

• Courtois criticized Rodri's Barcelona move as "a pity" while acknowledging the midfielder's quality.
• Espanyol's tweet about Vinícius's yellow card sparked a heated response from the Real Madrid keeper.
• Courtois kept a clean sheet in Madrid's 3-0 win over Espanyol on 24 August 2026.
• The Belgian goalkeeper has been instrumental in Madrid's early 2026-27 league campaign.

Data source: Yahoo Sports report on Courtois press conference, 24 August 2026.