Real Madrid have decided to keep Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez this season, according to a report from El Chiringuito’s Josep Pedrerol.
¡ATENCIÓN! James se queda en el Real Madrid. Esa es la decisión del club a estas horas. @elchiringuitotv pic.twitter.com/Wf9khOxmEY
— Josep Pedrerol (@jpedrerol) July 26, 2019
Madrid were trying to find a deal for James with clubs like Napoli and Atletico de Madrid but Marco Asensio’s ACL injury and Gareth Bale’s imminent departure to the Chinese SuperLeague have given James a chance to stay and potentially play on Madrid’s right wing. Napoli were not willing to pay €40 million to sign James and Madrid just did not want to improve Atletico’s roster, apparently.
James will join the club in the next few weeks given that he was given time off because of his participation in the Copa America.
Zidane has never been a big fan of James and this doesn’t mean that the Colombian playmaker will be given the starting role. However, he definitely has the quality to compete with Isco, Vinicius and Lucas Vazquez for the spot on Madrid’s right wing.