Mallorca Captain Dani Rodríguez Suspended After Publicly Criticizing Benching
PALMA, Mallorca – RCD Mallorca has suspended veteran midfielder Dani Rodríguez without pay and stripped him of the club captaincy following his public criticism of manager Jagoba Arrasate for not selecting him in last weekend’s match against Real Madrid.
The club announced the disciplinary measures in a statement on Monday, stating the 37-year-old had been suspended from duty and relieved of his leadership role with immediate effect. The punishment comes in response to a social media post Rodríguez published on Instagram following the 2-0 defeat at the Santiago Bernabéu, where his family was in attendance.
“An important lesson and piece of advice for them: Never expect anything from anyone, especially these days, when meritocracy, culture, and respect for hard work are lacking,” Rodríguez wrote alongside a photo of his family at the stadium. In a subsequent open letter, he expressed further frustration at seeing recently signed forward Jan Virgili given minutes ahead of him, calling it a “lack of respect for commitment and dedication.”
Rodríguez, who joined Mallorca in 2018 and has made over 250 league appearances, has been a foundational figure for the club. His public airing of grievances, however, represents a significant breach of protocol and has been met with a firm response from the hierarchy.
The incident highlights the delicate balance managers must strike between rewarding veteran loyalty and integrating new signings, particularly for a club like Mallorca that often competes in the lower half of La Liga. For Rodríguez, a club legend, the suspension marks a stark and potentially career-defining rupture with the team he has long served.