Out-of-favour Real Madrid star James Rodriguez has revealed he would like to play in the Premier League
According to Marca, via the Daily Mail, Real Madrid’s Colombian international star James Rodriguez is tempted by a move to the Premier League.
However, the former-Porto star will not come cheaply, with a fee of around £67million mooted.
Reports from Spain suggest that before Los Blancos shell-out any money on new signings that they will sell some of their current assets. James is the most sellable and obvious one of those assets.
Not worked out at Real Madrid
James Rodriguez arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2014 in a big money deal and a blaze of glory. He was arguably the star of the 2014 World Cup with Colombia. The then 23-year-old was signed by Real Madrid as the next Galactico.
Unfortunately it has not really worked out for the talented attacking midfielder in the Spanish capital. The fact that the BBC front three of Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo are cast iron choices in attack has hindered his chances of being a success.
His stats are pretty good for Los Blancos, considering that he had fallen out of favour at Real Madrid last season. In 78 appearances for the European champions he has scored 25 times and produced a further 28 assists.
In any other team James would be a star player, especially played in his best position, which is widely regarded as being in a central attacking midfield role.
He has been played on both flanks during his time at Real and also played as a more of a central midfielder. The 25-year-old has produced decent performances whatever role he has played, but you sense that he could be far more successful if utilised in the right way.
Where would he fit in at Manchester United?
James Rodriguez’s reported wish to move to the Premier League is believed to have pricked-up the ears of Manchester United. The Red Devils are looking to challenge for the big trophies once again next season under Jose Mourinho.
United have already been busy strengthening their attacking options by bringing in Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Armenian attacking midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan this summer.
The pair have been added to a United forward stock that already contains England captain Wayne Rooney, French international Anthony Martial and talented local youngster Marcus Rashford. That is without talking about Spanish playmaker Juan Mata or winger Jesse Lingard.
It seems the Red Devils already have enough attacking options to be competitive next season. I am not quite sure where James could be accommodated in Mourinho’s team.
The Portuguese boss has stated that he wanted to make four signings this summer. Three of those have already been made. United are already stalking Juventus’ Paul Pogba, the Frenchman has even gone to the USA to avoid the Red Devils attentions.
It seems unlikely that United are prepared to pay a reported fee of around £100million for Pogba, then make a move for the Real Madrid man at £67million.
James Rodriguez needs to move on to become a real star
The Colombian international has the talent and potential to become a real star. However at Real Madrid he is a small fish in a big pond. Elsewhere he would be given the license to play and shine, without being in the shadow of the likes of Ronaldo and Bale.
He enjoyed an impressive first campaign in the Spanish capital. His second campaign was hampered by injuries and lack of opportunities in the team. It seems he is now surplus to requirements at Real. Big spending French champions PSG are favourites at odds of 2/1 to be his club when the transfer window shuts in September.
United have been linked with a host of players since Mourinho’s arrival at Old Trafford, so this story could just be paper talk. Real Madrid are looking for a profit on the Colombian, so may Los Blancos will be fanning the flames of the United rumour.
As a fan of the Premier League it would be great to see a player of James Rodriguez in the English top-flight. Unfortunately it looks highly-unlikely that he will be plying his trade in the Premier League season.
That is unless another English club come up with the massive fee it would take to sign the attacking midfielder, which does not likely at the minute.
Should Manchester United attempt to sign James Rodriguez?
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