According to a recent report by The Daily Express, Manchester United are set to begin talks to sign Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez this summer. The same source has also mentioned that the Red Devils are set to open negotiations over a £23m move for the Colombian international next week. It is believed that Los Blancos are prepared to sanction Rodriguez’s departure when the transfer window reopens later this month (via The Daily Express).
Rodriguez’s Unimpressive Season At The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
Rodriguez has endured an injury-plagued season at the Spanish capital after missing out on several matches primarily due to a medial collateral ligament problem. He has made 14 appearances for the Madrid outfit this term, scoring one goal and providing two assists in all competitions which highlight his growing frustrations at the Spanish capital.
The 29-year-old deserves some praise for adapting to a box-to-box central midfield role and has averaged 2.1 tackles, 1.1 shots and 1.8 key passes per game in La Liga this season. He has completed 82.3% of his attempted passes in league football which proves just how tidy he can be with his ball-distribution (stats via whoscored).
Rodriguez has also earned a wealth of experience at the international stage after rising to prominence with Colombia over the past decade. He has secured 76 senior caps for the Colombian national team, registering 22 goals for his homeland in the process. Maybe a summer switch to Old Trafford could offer the player a chance to make a fresh start and rediscover his old form for both club and country in the coming years.
What Are The South American Sensation’s Best Attributes?
Rodriguez lacks pace and can sometimes struggle to move up and down the field. However, he makes up for his lack of mobility through his clever movements and dribbling ability with the ball at his feet. The Colombian international is a technically-gifted footballer and has proven himself to be a decent orchestrator of some clear-cut goal-scoring chances in the final third. However, he needs to improve his productivity considerably if he wants to be a regular starter at the Theatre of Dreams next season.
Should Los Blancos Part Ways With Rodriguez This Summer?
All signs point towards Rodriguez being surplus to requirements at the Bernabeu, so Zidane should consider shipping him out of the club during the summer transfer period. Los Blancos can use the money generated from his potential sale to strengthen other areas of their squad.
Plus, getting the Colombian’s wages off their wage-bill will benefit the club’s finances in the long run as they try to tackle and come back as a superior force on the other side of this COVID-19 pandemic. With all things considered, the Spanish champions will be better off sanctioning Rodriguez’s departure before the start of the new campaign.
