OUT-OF-FAVOUR Real Madrid attacker James Rodriguez has joined Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal, the German club have confirmed.
The Colombia international earned a big-money move to Real Madrid from Monaco after starring at the 2014 World Cup, finishing top scorer at that competition with six goals, but he struggled to live up to big expectations thereafter.
The 25-year-old found first-team football hard to come by last season, with boss Zinedine Zidane leaving the player out of their Champions League final squad last June.
Man United were previously heavily linked with the out-of-favour star, but Bayern Munich today confirmed via a statement that they had won the race to sign him.
“FC Bayern Munich and Real Madrid have agreed on the change of Colombian national player James Rodriguez to the German championship on Tuesday,” it read.
The two clubs agreed on a two-year loan transaction until June 30, 2019 with the following purchase option for FC Bayern Munich.
“James Rodriguez will sign his contract in Munich after successfully completing the compulsory medical check.”
“We’re delighted we’ve been able to complete this transfer,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge added.
Signing James Rodriguez was our coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest wish, following their successful spell working together in Madrid.
“James is a very versatile player. He’s a goalscorer himself, he sets up a lot of goals and on top of that he’s great from set-pieces. There’s no question that this transfer further increases the quality in our team.”
Additional reporting by AFP
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If they win The Finals, he’s sure to stay. 50 restaurants signed up to give him free food for life if he signs with them longer term at the end of this season. Plus a free apartment. Some rich people are giving him a massive appartment for free if he signs next season … That’s whether they win The Finals or not. Just sign. Lotta love in Toronto
@Dulra Cork: but it’s in Canada…..some player he is.
Don’t see why he wouldn’t stay in Toronto.. Clippers favorites to land him in free agency if he does leave but then he’d just have to rebuild them all over again like he did raptors.. hope he stays and wins MVP and gets another ring
@Stephen A. Smith: DONT SEE WHY HE WOULDNT STAY IN TORONTO. CLIPPERS FAVOURITES TO LAND HIM IN FREE AGENCY IF HE DOES LEAVEBUT THEN HE’D JUST HAVE TO REBUILD THEM ALL OVER AGAIN LIKE HE DID THE RAPTORS.. HOPE HE STAYS AND WINS MVP AND GETS ANOTHER RING….
Fixed that for you Stephen