RODRI apologised to his former team-mate Bernardo Silva after their row during Spain’s 1-0 World Cup win over Portugal.

The reigning European champions overcame Cristiano Ronaldo‘s Portugal thanks to a late Mikel Merino goal in a tense affair.

Portugal had a chance late on themselves, but soon-to-be Real Madrid star Bernardo Silva could not convert.

The playmaker has just departed Manchester City after nine fruitful years of service and he spent seven of those years alongside former Ballon d’Or winner Rodri.

The defensive midfielder appeared to stand over Silva while celebrating his miss and that did not go down well with the Portuguese international.

He popped back up and when Rodri tried to put his arm round him, a heated exchange took place that the Spain players had to defuse.

The 30-year-old Rodri was quick to suggest national pride had clouded his judgement for a second when he was interviewed after the game.

He said: “I apologise to Bernardo Silva for celebrating his miss on that last action. It’s my fault.”

The duo played a total of 248 games together for the Cityzens and were key figures in the famous treble victory in 2023.

Silva, John Stones and Pep Guardiola left Man City at the end of last season to signal the end of an era for the blue half of Manchester.

But despite Rodri’s previous confessions that he would like to return home and play in Madrid again one day, the club’s midfield pillar remains in the North West for now.

Spain will now face Belgium on Friday in the quarter-finals.

Should they emerge victorious, a showdown with either Morocco or France awaits in the semi-finals.

England are on the other side of the draw and face Norway this Saturday. A date with Argentina, who play Egypt tonight, in the semi-finals appears to be the toughest prospect left on paper for the Three Lions.