Dani Rodríguez has pointed the finger at Jagoba Arrasate for RCD Mallorca's relegation. The former captain blamed the then-manager's poor handling of the squad in a frank interview this Wednesday.

The 37-year-old Galician midfielder, who left the club in January 2026 after a public dispute with Arrasate, did not hold back. "I think people have realised I wasn't very wrong," Rodríguez stated on the 'La Zona 10' programme on Fibwi Radio. The player, who made over 300 appearances for Mallorca, argued the issue was "group-wide" and not individual, claiming Arrasate's management of the dressing room was not good. "It was the maximum problem we had in getting relegated to the Segunda División," he stated emphatically.

A Costly Conflict

He eventually terminated his contract in December 2025 and signed for CD Leganés. "I regret the manner, but I'm not stupid either," the footballer admitted, saying he would have preferred to apologise and rebuild trust internally rather than stand by his public opinion. He added his departure helped no one and that he was an asset who could have aided the team. The player also revealed that, during his suspension, he had no contact with Arrasate to resolve the conflict.

The current situation at RCD Mallorca is markedly different. The team, now under new management, sits sixth in the Segunda División with 18 points from ten games, six points behind the leaders. Their next match, against Rodríguez's Leganés on Saturday 24 October, is a chance to continue climbing the standings. The vermilion squad arrives with a run of two wins, two draws and one loss in their last five outings, following a 1-1 draw with Eibar last time out. In that match, played on Saturday 17 October, Adrián Fuentes, the team's top scorer this season with six goals, netted Mallorca's goal in the 52nd minute. The team has scored 12 goals and conceded just five in the league so far.

Their recent sequence of results includes the 3-1 win over Las Palmas, where Fuentes also scored, and the goalless draw with Girona.

Rodríguez, who still hopes to coach Mallorca one day, will play his first match against his former club this weekend. The fixture at Butarque will be an emotional reunion for the midfielder, who made clear he accepts his decision to leave "with all consequences". The full squad, with Adrián Fuentes as top scorer, is now focused on the promotion fight. The player concluded that, despite everything, his heart remains with Mallorca.

This story first appeared at Diario de Navarra