James Rodríguez has spoken in recent days about his time in Brazil with Sao Paulo and what his career has been like. In an interview for Globoesporte he assured that everything in football “changes quickly”, but later in a Twitch broadcast he stated that two important teams in Europe called him to sign him.
One is the king of France, PSG, who called him and offered him good money and the other team is Manchester City, which is the current champion of the Champions League. The Cucuteño midfielder and ’10’ of the Colombia team assured that glory is above money. In the broadcast he told details of what happened and how this defined his path in football.
Colombian midfielder James Rodríguez revealed in a Twitch broadcast the reasons behind his signing for Real Madrid, choosing the Spanish club over offers from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Manchester City.
Rodríguez expressed his preference for “glory” over money, which ultimately tipped his decision toward the merengue team. This choice has caused debates among fans about what would have happened to his career if he had taken a different path.
James, considered one of the most outstanding Colombian soccer players, reached a peak in his professional career thanks to his performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, where he won the title of top scorer.
His time at Real Madrid, however, was full of ups and downs and was affected by changes in the team’s technical direction, with coaches such as Zinedine Zidane and Rafael Benítez.
During his interaction with content creator Pelicanger, the player shared that, despite the interest shown by PSG and Manchester City, his choice was motivated by the desire for triumphs and sporting achievements with the whites.
In the conversation, James Rodríguez mentioned a key dialogue with Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid. Pérez would have asked the player to choose between “money or glory”, to which Rodríguez responded firmly in favor of glory.
This position earned him joining the club in a transfer valued at 75 million euros, becoming one of the most expensive additions for a Colombian player. Although his quest for glory was supported by Pérez, the lack of consistency in the Madrid team affected his value in the football market.
Currently, James Rodríguez plays in Sao Paulo, seeking to regain a starring role in soccer. Meanwhile, the reasons for his decision to join Real Madrid, over other top European clubs, continue to spark discussions about the different directions his professional career could have taken.
2024 by James Rodríguez
James Rodríguez’s contract with São Paulo runs until June 2025, but his recent comments have sparked speculation about his stay. Teams such as Los Angeles Galaxy, Rayados de Monterrey and Boca Juniors appear as possible interested parties in the player, who so far has not confirmed his departure from the team and leaves the final decision in the hands of the club and his entourage.
James Rodríguez must remain in good physical condition for the 2024 Copa América with Colombia, a crucial event for his aspirations and those of his national team. Adapting to São Paulo and obtaining continuity are key in preparing for the championship, as well as the World Cup qualifiers. At the moment, the player’s future is uncertain and his performance with the club will influence the outcome of this stage of his career.
For the next two friendlies of the Colombian team against the Venezuelan youth team and then against the Mexican team, Néstor Lorenzo will surely give him a rest, to be able to call up and see players from the local tournament. With Infobae