James Rodriguez Has No Regrets over Leaving Real Madrid for Bayern, Father Says

The father of Bayern Munich star James Rodriguez has said his son made the right decision in leaving Real Madrid for the Bundesliga giants.

Rodriguez joined Bayern on a two-year loan in the summer after an up-and-down spell in the Spanish capital, and he's been a smash hit so far in Germany.

Speaking to Marca Claro (h/t MailOnline's Jack Bezants), Wilson Rodriguez said his son has rediscovered the joy of playing the game:

"My son did well leaving Real Madrid for Bayern Munich, he is very happy in Germany.

"I see him living a calm and cheerful life and it's incredibly important for him to perform on the pitch.

"He loves Real Madrid a lot, I don't think anybody can ever doubt that, however, the best thing he could do was leave the team.

"He had lost the sporting joy on the pitch that he had when [Carlo] Ancelotti was coach."

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The Colombia international joined Real after he played a starring role at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but after an impressive first season in Madrid, his play took a major step back. An untimely injury at the start of his second season put him on the wrong track, and he never truly recovered.

The likes of Isco and Lucas Vazquez soon overtook him in the Real pecking order, and when Rodriguez did get his chance, a lack of match rhythm meant he rarely impressed.

The 26-year-old has been reborn in Germany, however, in part thanks to a position switch. After an inconsistent start in Bavaria, manager Jupp Heynckes moved him into central midfield―rather than the attacking-midfield role he had typically played―and Rodriguez's performances immediately picked up.

His great form has carried into 2018, per the club's official Twitter account:

Here's a look at some of his top highlights:

While Rodriguez's father kept the door to Real open with his comments, a reunion seems unlikely to happen anytime soon. Bayern seemingly hold all the cards, with the two-year loan accompanied by an option to make the deal permanent, per the club's official website.

Rodriguez has also said he's not thinking about Spain at all, as his sole focus is on Bayern, via El Chiringuito (h/t AS).

In Madrid, Marco Asensio's quick rise has given Los Blancos a perfect replacement for the Colombian, and Dani Ceballos is also expected to continue his development and fight for more minutes in the near future.

This loan deal appears to have been the best move for all parties involved so far, especially if the Bundesliga giants trigger their option in the summer of 2019―netting Los Blancos a transfer fee on top of the loan fee.