Mallorca Suspends Captain Dani Rodriguez, Strips Captaincy After Match Criticism

Real Mallorca has suspended club captain Dani Rodriguez and stripped him of the captaincy following his public criticism of head coach Jagoba Arrasate after a 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid. Rodriguez expressed frustration on social media about not being played despite his long tenure and dedication, highlighting that new signing Jan Virgili, who had only trained once with the team, was selected instead. Although Rodriguez acknowledged the coach's authority over team selection, he condemned the perceived lack of meritocracy and respect, suggesting that hard work and loyalty were being overlooked. The club responded by suspending Rodriguez without pay and removing his leadership role immediately. Rodriguez, a 37-year-old who has made 277 appearances since 2018 and contributed to two promotion campaigns, also shared personal reflections and images of his family attending the match. Mallorca’s swift disciplinary actions underline the club’s stance on maintaining respect and unity within the squad.