James Rodriguez returning to Real Madrid?
By Hasan Karim
James Rodriguez has long been a fan-favourite of Real Madrid fans worldwide. The player who signed after a stellar World Cup performance in 2014 was electric in his debut campaign, however, following the appointment of Zidane, he fell by the wayside in terms of selection and left the club on loan to Bayern Munich in search of minutes.
With his loan-spell starting out well, reunited with then coach of Bayern, Carlo Ancelotti, it seemed likely that the star would not return to Spain. His impressive form and quotes in the media all but suggested he would like to remain beyond his initial 2-year stint. However, following the sacking of Ancelotti and the appointment of Niko Kovac, James has seen himself not getting as many minutes and numerous reports of fallouts with the manager have found their way into the media over the course of this season.
Recent statements in the media from his father have now gotten up the hopes of some Madrid fans. His father recently said: “It is unfortunate he is not currently at Madrid because that is the club he loves, although he enjoyed many beautiful moments at the club. He is a fan of the club and they remain in his heart, so on that basis, he would be open to a return should the cards fall that way.”
Whilst it is clear that James has an affection for his parent club, there are complications to his potential return. Bayern Munich has a 35 million Euro purchase option on him come the end of his loan spell, which they can choose to activate. However, a statement from the clubs sporting director stated they were unsure on their ideas as of yet, however, they will not activate it just to sell him on for a profit.
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Another potential complication that could come into play is the rumored return of Jose Mourinho. The Portuguese has been linked with a return to the Spanish capital since being sacked by Manchester United and should he return, it is rumored he will block any deal for the Colombian.
Whatever should happen between James and Madrid – his return is certainly something Madrid fans can be excited about, the player is world class and has shown his ability over the years. According to his father, a return is something the player is thinking about:
James Rodriguez’s father to Marca: “Deep in his heart, he is a fan of Real Madrid, of course, he is thinking about a return.” #FCBayern #Real #AFC
— Ronan Murphy (@swearimnotpaul) January 24, 2019
This will definitely be a story to continue following!