Real Madrid Transfer News: James Rodriguez Latest Amid Manchester United Rumours

James Rodriguez's future at Real Madrid has been thrown into further doubt after the forward's mother, Pilar Rubio, said it is up to club president Florentino Perez to decide what happens to the Colombian.

She also stressed that his agent, Jorge Mendes, would be involved in any decision following recent links with a £60 million summer move to Manchester United, per Liam Corless in the Mirror: "I don't get involved [with his footballing future]. His transfer situation has always been handed with reservation. It is a decision that will taken between Madrid president Perez, James and his agent. He has to play the same and give the same effort no matter what shirt or boots he wears."

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James has lost his first-team place recently at Real under manager Zinedine Zidane and has been given only 19 minutes of action in total in their last three matches against Wolfsburg, Barcelona and Sevilla, per WhoScored.com.

Zidane seemingly does not trust the 24-year-old playmaker, perhaps because he has shown very little of the quality and dedication in 2015-16 that he displayed in his debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu.

A £63 million signing from Monaco in 2014 following his Golden Boot-winning contribution at Brazil's World Cup, Rodriguez returned 13 goals and 13 assists in La Liga in 2014-15, a tally he has not nearly matched this season, per WhoScored.com.

The Colombian has also been involved in a number of lifestyle controversies, not least an incident on New Year's Day when he refused to pull over in his car when travelling at 124 mph despite being signalled to by police, per BBC News.

Recent reports have suggested that if Real can make back their money on the former Porto man, they will be prepared to sell him on this summer, per El Confidencial (via Sport Witness):

Such a significant asking price—around £60 million—automatically rules out most clubs, but United certainly have the funds, and perhaps the need, to sign Rodriguez.

He has not become a bad player overnight and could still flourish and improve if given the right role at the right club.

United are crying out for more creativity, and after another disappointing season in the Premier League, they are likely to splash out again on some more attacking reinforcements this summer—Bleacher Report's Dean Jones thinks they could go in for Everton's Romelu Lukaku:

With Real, Mendes and United having done plenty of business together before—not least on the transfers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Angel Di Maria—Old Trafford looks a natural link for Rodriguez considering his current struggles.

There has be no move to guarantee James will remain at Real past the summer, and his mother's latest comments have only added fuel to the fire, with United looking the most likely destination should he make a move.