Real Madrid Transfer News: James Rodriguez in Manchester City, Chelsea Rumours

Manchester City and Chelsea have both reportedly inquired about the possibility of signing James Rodriguez from Real Madrid this summer. 

That’s according to El Confidencial (h/t Sport Witness), which suggested the two clubs have “asked for” the Colombia captain. Rodriguez fell out of favour under the tutelage of manager Zinedine Zidane late last season and has been linked with a move away as a result.

“El Confidencial were very good on the Real Madrid exits of Gonzalo Higuain, Mesut Ozil and Angel Di Maria so they probably deserve a listen,” added Sport Witness, which also acknowledged that the report linked Paris Saint-Germain with the playmaker, who is said be valued at around €65 million by the club.

It’s a shame that Rodriguez’s time with Madrid seems to be slowly petering out, particularly after he lit up the Santiago Bernabeu in his debut campaign. Here are some of his best moments in the iconic all-white jersey:

Rodriguez showed what he is capable of at the Copa America Centenario this summer. With the armband for Colombia he thrived in a team that was geared toward getting the best from him, linking attacking play together and making tangible contributions in the final third.

OptaJavier noted how important he was to Jose Pekerman’s side, who ended up finishing in a respectable third place at the tournament:

The issue Rodriguez has on the domestic front is the team will not be set up around him; the 24-year-old is one of many star men at Zidane’s disposal, all of whom are vying to be the focal point of Madrid’s attack. The Colombian has not done enough to usurp the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo or Gareth Bale in this sense.

Additionally, he doesn’t seem to align with the mantras of Zidane. Since the Frenchman took over at the Bernabeu he’s sought to add a pragmatic streak to the way in which Real play, meaning a No. 10 has been replaced by a holding midfielder and every squad member has had to show increased discipline. Rodriguez, by contrast, needs freedom to flourish.

Dave Thompson/Getty Images

Ed Malyon of the Daily Mirror noted another possible factor that may push Rodriguez closer to the Madrid exit door:

For Chelsea and City this could be good news, as while Rodriguez may not be good enough to be the key attacking cog in the Spanish capital, he would be in most other sides.

New managers Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola will be able to call upon a clutch of attacking talent in their respective new positions, but Rodriguez is a superstar in the right setup, able to control a game, create chances and score goals from a variety of different positions on the field.

These numbers from WhoScored.com are an indicator of that, especially when considering the quality of attacking players in Spain’s top flight:

Both coaches are managers that demand intensity and application from players, something that Rodriguez would surely have to adhere to if he was to make the move to one of these Premier League giants. Nevertheless, if the chance is there for either to get a player of such quality through the door, they should grasp it.

The Colombia man would surely be disappointed if he was to be moved on by Madrid in the summer. As an attacking player there aren’t many better venues to play football than at the Bernabeu, and if there’s any chance of him salvaging his future there, he should do his utmost to do so. Otherwise, PSG, City and Chelsea would all begin to look like very attractive options.