Manchester United Transfer News: James Rodriguez Snub Discussed by Ex-Scout

Former Manchester United scout Marcelo Teixeira has detailed why the Red Devils decided against signing James Rodriguez before he became a Real Madrid superstar.

It was reported in 2014 that the English club could have nabbed James from Argentinian club Banfield in 2010 for "around £5 million," reported by Paul Joyce of the Express. Instead, Joyce says the side opted to spend £7.4 million on Bebe, a striker who never broke into the Old Trafford first team.

Teixeira indicates his former colleague Jose Mayorga—United's scout in Argentina—was a huge fan of Rodriguez, but the club didn't think he possessed the attributes to excel in England. Marcus Alves of FourFourTwo reported Teixeira's comments:

"

Jose Mayorga loved James. He had always included his name in his files, but the evaluation was that his profile didn’t suit the Premier League. Basically, he hadn't got the speed required for English football. The chief scout (Jim Lawlor) regarded Maylson (now playing for Brazilian minor sides) higher than Douglas Costa and James.

"

Matilde Campodonico/Associated Press

Such a realisation will undoubtedly make United fans wince. Rodriguez has proven himself to be an adaptable, hard-working midfielder during his first season in Madrid. The 23-year-old netted plenty of goals as a goalscorer with Porto, Monaco and now Los Blancos, suggesting he has the technical skill and nuance to make himself prominent in any division.

The Premier League is crammed full of crafty playmakers who don't flaunt frightening speed, perhaps underlining United's mistake.

Manchester City's play is harnessed around David Silva's quality in possession, while Chelsea have found dominance since Cesc Fabregas joined in the summer. Philippe Coutinho isn't a rapid maestro for Liverpool, but his ability to find space and wriggle away from the opposition makes him an important part of Brendan Rodgers' lineup.

Gallo Images/Getty Images

Like Rodriguez, none of these players build their game around electric pace or imposing physicality. The notion that a world-class star won't succeed in England due to their build has long been destroyed, something players such as Raheem Sterling underline on a weekly basis.

Madrid paid approximately £63 million for Rodriguez after his heroics with Colombia at the 2014 World Cup. This was undoubtedly excessive, but his sudden marketability and rising stock made him a logical choice for a team who have a stylish image to uphold.

The player's qualities can be seen below:

Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti told Spanish publication AS (h/t the Guardian) he bought Rodriguez "for the future," but before his current injury problems set in, he was proving to be a player for today.

He occupies a slightly deeper role for Madrid when fit—pushed back from an attacking midfield position in 4-3-3—but this season's 12 goals and eight assists indicate he has successfully made the switch without hassle, per WhoScored.com.

For United, Rodriguez obviously represents one who got away. It's not as painful as letting Juventus star Paul Pogba leave without giving him a crack in the first team, but it's likely to still cut deep.

Benfica snapped up Bebe for £2.4 million in 2014, a player who is synonymous with the dealings Sir Alex Ferguson misfired on during his legendary tenure. Now we know a little more about the club's decision to overlook Rodriguez, this transfer is likely to be mocked even more.