Man City star Rodri chants 'Gibraltar is Spanish' in controversial Euro 2024 celebrations

Manchester City star Rodri has been allegedly caught chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish!” during Spain’s wild celebrations on Monday after winning Euro 2024. Rodri was named UEFA’s Player of the Tournament after some phenomenal displays in Germany, but his latest antics could land him in trouble with his club bosses when he returns to England for pre-season.

The Spain team’s mass celebration in Madrid at Plaza de Cibeles – the traditional square in the Spanish capital for celebrating major sporting triumphs – has gone viral on social media as the players led chants with their fans via microphones.

Earlier in the day, Marc Cucurella’s rendition of his own chant sung by Chelsea fans – only this time in Spanish – went viral after he stood on a table and mocked Erling Haaland.

And when the players arrived on an open-top bus into Cibeles, Rodri stepped off and began chanting: “Gib-ral-tar, Gibraltar es espanol, Gibraltar es espanol, Gibraltar is es-pan-ol!”, which simply translates as “Gibraltar is Spanish.”

Rodri, along with La Roja’s captain Alvaro Morata, then went up onto the main stage in front of tens of thousands of Spain fans and continued singing the chant into the microphone.

Eventually, the Spain supporters followed him in unison and continued chanting for around 30 seconds before he returned to laugh and joke with his team-mates.

Atletico Madrid striker Morata, who played for Chelsea for two seasons, walked over to Rodri and reminded him: “You play in England, mate”. The 28-year-old reportedly replied: “I don’t care.”

The chant has been viewed as a taunt at their English counterparts after Spain beat England 2-1 in Sunday’s final in Berlin.

Nico Williams put his side ahead less than 90 seconds in the second half before substitute Cole Palmer came off the bench to score the equaliser.

But with the clock ticking down towards extra time, super sub Mikel Oyarzabal stabbed home from Marc Cucurella’s cross to hand Luis de la Fuente’s side a record fourth European Championship title.

While the aftermath of the game between the two sides ended amicably, with Rodri consoling his Man City team-mates John Stones and Phil Foden, his karaoke attempt may not be viewed in such a favourable light back in the UK.

Gibraltar remains a matter of international controversy between Britain and Spain. While it is officially a British Overseas Territory and headland, it borders on Spain’s south coast at the tip of the Iberian Peninsula and most locals speak a Spanish dialect called ‘Llanito’.

Spain believe they have a right to claim the territory, but Gibraltarians rejected proposals for Spanish sovereignty in a 1967 referendum, and for shared sovereignty in another referendum in 2002.

It remains a point of contention in diplomatic relations between Spain and the UK.