Following public criticism of manager Jagoba Arrasate on social media, RCD Mallorca has suspended veteran midfielder Dani Rodríguez, stripping him of his captaincy and salary with immediate effect.
Rodríguez, a key player and one of the team’s longest-serving members, used Instagram to voice his frustration after being benched in favour of new teammate Jan Virgili during a match against Real Madrid.
A day after the match, Rodríguez posted an emotional message on Instagram. He wrote, “Never expect anything from anyone, and even less so nowadays, when meritocracy, culture and respect for work are conspicuous by their absence.” He also said, “Things are earned, not given. And when you earn them, they taste twice as good.”
After facing backlash for his initial comments, Rodríguez posted a second, more critical message. While attempting to apologise to fans, his words further ignited the controversy.
“It hurts me that a player who just arrived, with just one training session, has the opportunity to play ahead of teammates who have spent years defending this shirt with sweat and dedication,” he stated.
He went on to say that the manager’s decision “sends a terrible message to the locker room: loyalty, hard work, or dedication don’t matter.”
Rodríguez later admitted his public reaction was wrong but explained that it was fuelled by passion and frustration.
“My reaction may not have been the right one, but it stemmed from passion and the frustration of not receiving any explanation or communication about it. There was no other intention. Let’s be clear: this is the club of my life. I have always given and will always give my all for this shirt. I only ask that that same commitment be respected. On Saturday, that respect wasn’t there.”
