James Rodriguez's Father Says Napoli Are 'The Best Solution' After Bayern Exit
James Rodriguez's father, Wilson James Rodriguez Bedoya,ย believes Napoli would be the best destination for the playmaker this summer following his departure from Bayern Munich.ย
The Colombian will return to Real Madrid following the Copa America after two years on loan with Bayern, andย Napoli are thought to be leading the chase to sign him, according to Marca.
"It's an important club," his father toldย CalcioNapoli24 (h/t Marca). "Napoliย is the best solution at the moment."
Moving to Naples would allow him to work with Carlo Ancelotti again. The Italian signed James for Real in 2014 and then recruited him on loan with Bayern three years later.
Rodriguez senior added:ย
"[James] has had a lot of respect for Ancelotti since the start; he recognises what he has done, he will know how to increase his value. They've always had a strong friendship. I think that a new career path would be best for James. He would also be able to work with [Colombia team-mate David] Ospina."
Ancelotti would welcome James at Napoli, according to club presidentย Aurelio De Laurentiis, per Goal's Mark Doyle:
The 27-year-oldย missed 25 matchesย during his two seasons with Bayernย through various injury issues.
In the 67 appearances he managed, 49 of which were starts, he produced 15 goals and 20 assists.
He is in Colombia's squad for the Copa America. In Los Cafeteros' second match, he set up Duvan Zapata to give them a 1-0 win over invited nation Qatar:
It was one of several opportunities he created for his team in that match:
Only Atalanta scored more than Napoli's 74 goals in Serie A last term, but the Partenopei need as much quality as they can get to be able to compete with Juventus for the Scudetto.
Having another match-winning option who can score or create will help in that regard, and the likes of Dries Mertens, Lorenzo Insigne and Arkadiusz Milik would relish the prospect of working with the quality of delivery James can produce.
