Real Madrid Transfer News: Latest James Rodriguez, Cristiano Ronaldo Rumours

Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez is reportedly doing little to curry favour at the club, even alienating himself from the dressing room amid rumours of a potential move to Manchester United.

According to Fernando Baquero of Sport, the Colombian wants a salary increase and that request has “not gone down well at the club or in the dressing room." 

“That was the beginning of the end for players like Higuain, Ozil and Di Maria, who left Madrid through the back door,” continued Baquero, who also wrote that James' lifestyle isn’t “fitting for a professional footballer.”

Here is a look at why Rodriguez seemed destined to be a star at the Santiago Bernabeu, as he enjoyed a tremendous debut season:

According to “sources in England” Rodriguez’s agent, Jorge Mendes, has been in talks about a potential transfer to Old Trafford.

Rodriguez did get a chance to start for Real in their 1-1 draw with Real Betis at the weekend. It was a decent enough performance from the 24-year-old, who set up Karim Benzema’s equalising goal. But he didn’t show the same awareness, technical flair and quality on the ball that was so prevalent last season.

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Despite this drop off and subsequent lack of playing time, as we can see here courtesy of WhoScored.com, when he has been on the field, Rodriguez has actually been a positive influence for Real Madrid:

But if there are issues with his attitude, then at a club such as Real, there will always be a player ready to take that spot. There aren’t many squads in world football that possess an array of attacking talent to compare with Madrid’s and although the midfielder has been making stuff happen on the field, it’s important that’s married with the right mental approach.

Florentino Perez Rules out Cristiano Ronaldo Sale

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Real Madrid President Florentino Perez has reiterated that Cristiano Ronaldo will not be leaving the club any time soon in an interview with AS (h/t Aaron Flanagan of the Daily Mirror).

“He is Di Stefano's heir and he is very happy here, so he is not going to leave Real Madrid," Perez said. “He is the best player in the world and he has to keep playing for the best team in the world.”

There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding Ronaldo this term, with Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United both linked with a possible move for the Portuguese, per Jason Burt of the Daily Telegraph.

However, having been levied with a two-window ban on signing new players, any chances of Ronaldo moving on seen to have evaporated.

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Although the forward has netted an impressive 27 goals already this season, as Sky Sports’ Spanish football expert Guillem Balague noted here, at the moment he is not scoring critical goals for his side:

Although many would disagree with the suggestion he’s the best player in the world, in terms of pure goalscoring, he’s the standout player in the game.

The prospect of selling Ronaldo now for massive money would surely be tempting to the Madrid hierarchy, with the forward set to turn 31 next month.

Bringing in a replacement for the former United man would be hugely difficult, though, especially with a transfer ban looming. In the short term, it’d be a big surprise if Ronaldo was donning the colours of any other side.