La Liga side Mallorca have suspended veteran midfielder Dani Rodriguez and withdrawn the captain’s armband from him following his public criticism of the coach’s decision to leave him out during the team’s clash with Real Madrid.
The 37-year-old playmaker, who has been part of the club since 2018, remained on the bench throughout Mallorca’s 2-1 loss at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday. After the match, Rodriguez openly expressed his frustration at head coach Jagoba Arrasate’s choice not to call him into action.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, Mallorca confirmed the disciplinary measures: “Mallorca has suspended the employment and salary of the player Dani Rodriguez. The club also strips the footballer of the captaincy with immediate effect.”
Rodriguez’s discontent stemmed from the introduction of new signing Jan Virgili, who had only recently joined from Barcelona. Despite just one training session with the team, Virgili was brought on as a substitute ahead of Rodriguez.
Taking to Instagram, Rodriguez voiced his displeasure: “I hope Jan succeeds here and between all of us we can help him, but something like this sends a horrible message to the dressing room, that work, delivery and loyalty don’t matter. It hurts that a player who just got here, with one training session, has the chance to play ahead of team-mates who have been here for years defending this shirt with sweat and labour, putting the club above everything.”
His comments, which questioned the values of loyalty and commitment within the squad, appear to have prompted the club’s swift response. The disciplinary action marks a significant setback for Rodriguez, who has been an integral part of Mallorca’s squad for the past six years.
What You Should Know
Dani Rodriguez, Mallorca’s long-serving midfielder and former captain, was suspended without pay and stripped of leadership duties after criticizing his coach for benching him against Real Madrid.
His frustration arose when new signing Jan Virgili, with minimal training, was chosen ahead of him — a move Rodriguez argued undermined loyalty and long-term dedication to the club.
