The Colombian playmaker is currently in the type of financial purgatory we’ve seen footballers like Gareth Bale and Philippe Coutinho sink into, only he’s found himself an unlikely savour.
Knight in Shining Armour
Real Madrid’s 29-year-old high earner isn’t really wanted around the Spanish capital, where he landed in 2014 following a 67.50 million pound move from Monaco, and he isn’t really wanted around Munich either - the place he spent two years on loan.
Instead, James Rodriguez will find himself on Merseyside for next season - reported Sky Sports.
Except, he won’t be at the good Merseyside. He’ll be on the bad half, the Blue half.
Everton
Everton are close to signing the playmaker on a three-year deal, where he’ll be reunited with Carlo Ancelotti for a third time. Instead of ripping the Champions League to shreds and earning international recognition, he’ll be helping Everton to finally close the gap on the top six and emerge from their years of mid-table obscurity.
This should be an exciting move for Toffies, who can now look forward to seeing Rodriguez form a tasty trio with Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, but the Colombian could be forgiven for wondering how it all came to this.
After lighting up the 2014 World Cup, he won the Golden Boot with six goals, it all fell into place. Moves to Monaco and then Madrid happened quickly, as did initial success. But it remains telling that he’s only played 85 La Liga games since that 2014 transfer, while injury hampered his time with Munich.
Challenge
If Ancelotti can get the best out of Rodriguez, and he can stay fit, they have an exciting player on their hands. In 388 professional appearances, he’s scored 104 goals and assisted 125. Those are incredible numbers.
At this stage of his career, Rodriguez might have envisioned a final huge contract with Madrid, a move to Manchester City or a final flurry with an entrenched superclub.
He’s got Everton. How the mighty have fallen.