Madrid: Colombian star James Rodriguez is set to join Atletico Madrid this summer for approximately £13.5million, with his future at Real Madrid in doubt, according to reports. Rodriguez was signed in 2014 from Monaco after his impressive show in the World Cup in Brazil.
But despite showing early signs, during his initial days, the midfielder has failed to settle into Zinedine Zidane’s first-team plans at the Bernabeu and is now poised to move across the city to Atletico, according to Spanish sports show El Golazo de Gol.
According to reports, Diego Simeone’s side could sign the 29-year-old, who has featured just once for the LaLiga champions post-lockdown, for as little as £13.5m. However, Atletico Madrid president Enrique Cerezo admitted he was currently not sure if Rodriguez would sign.
“We have an excellent and young squad,” Cerezo told Radio Marca. “However, if the coach considers it necessary, we will do everything in our reach to bring a player in. I have no idea whether he will end up coming.” Apart from Atletico Madrid, Manchester United and Everton have also been closely linked with a move for Rodriguez, with a move to Goodison Park potentially reuniting the Colombian with coach Carlo Ancelotti.
Arsenal and Wolves are also rumoured to be eyeing up a cut-price deal. Rodriguez had an unconvincing two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich from 2017 to 2019 after he was frozen out of Zidane’s plans at Madrid. This season, he missed two months at the back end of 2019 due to a knee injury picked up on international duty and he was also sidelined with a hip problem for a short period.
