James Rodriguez Transfer Rumours: Latest News, Speculation on Real Madrid Star

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"I will stay at Real Madrid. I am going to triumph here," Rodriguez said, per Sport. "I'm going to fight to win a place at Madrid. It is my dream. I know that an offer of 85 million arrived for me at the club but I did not leave." 

Rodriguez Linked with Premier League Switch

Saturday, July 16

According to Jose Felix Diaz of Marca (translated by Joseph Sexton), Manchester United, Chelsea and West Ham United have been tipped as possible suitors from English football’s top flight, with Paris Saint-Germain also said to be keen on the Colombia star.

It’s noted in the piece that a bid matching Real’s €80 million (£67 million) valuation will be accepted by Los Blancos, and it’ll be up to the player to decide whether or not he wants to move clubs.

Rodriguez fell out of favour under manager Zinedine Zidane. The coach sought to add a pragmatic streak to the team’s play after taking over from Rafael Benitez, a tweak that meant a No. 10—Rodriguez’s best position—was often not utilised.

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Rodriguez spent a lot of time on the bench under Zidane.

Indeed, the likes of Jese Rodriguez, Isco and Lucas Vazquez all seemed to be preferred by the Frenchman late in the campaign. As well as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, Zidane will also be able to call on Alvaro Morata next season in the attacking berths.

It leaves the 25-year-old in a potentially difficult position. As noted here by OptaJavier, he’ll at least head into the upcoming campaign having played plenty of football for his country this summer:

486 - James Rodriguez was the Colombian player with the most minutes in this #CopaAmerica: 486 out of Colombia’s 540 total minutes. Key

— OptaJavier (@OptaJavier) June 26, 2016

Still, Zidane doesn’t seem convinced by the player and with that in mind, perhaps it would be better for Rodriguez to embark on a new challenge elsewhere.

After all, for most teams he’d be at the crux of their attacking play. The former Monaco man, when given freedom, can sway the course of a football match with his wonderful creativity and habit for producing spectacular moments. Those qualities won’t be seen too often if he’s sat on the bench in Madrid in 2016-17.