James Rodriguez isn’t the kind of creative player you’d expect to see coming out of South America. His skill and creativity are paramount to his play and but the manner he performs in is very different, a lot more effort into the end product and a lot less going into the flair of his game.
When Real Madrid President Florentino Perez decided to cash in on his best attacking midfielder (Angel Di Maria) to help accommodate the more marketable and stylish James Rodriguez after a successful World Cup, some within the football world were confused by the decision.
Rodriguez swiftly completed a transfer to the Los Blancos for around £50 million from AS Monaco, adding another Jorge Mendes-represented player to the Real Madrid squad.
Not gone to plan
But the Perez-inspired transfer trade off hasn’t gone to plan, in my view. Angel Di Maria, after a tough season at Manchester United, has really found his feet again at PSG - who have big ambitions of winning the Champions League - coming in direct competition with Real Madrid next season.
Despite being the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, it seems Rodriguez hasn’t been able to transfer that form he produced on the world stage into assists and goals for the first team.
Rodriguez has found himself stuck between a managerial merry-go-round since he has joined the club and Rodriguez hasn’t managed to fit himself into an already unbalanced central area of midfield.
Real Madrid are inundated with attacking midfielders, footballers with great technical ability going forward, but lack a more defensive minded player that can help firefight in the middle of the park.
Failure to replace Xabi
What I’m trying to say is they haven’t really replaced Xabi Alonso. Add a Luka Modric in the form of his life and the hallmark signing of Toni Kroos, it seems like those midfield opportunities going forward in the way James Rodriquez likes to are few and far between.
James Rodriquez may look the part at Real Madrid, but his talents aren’t being utilised properly. Sticking him out on the wing isn’t going to allow him to score the goals and drive forward play in the way he has shown he can in the past.
Move needed
The Columbian is in need of a move and to a club that can build a team around his main qualities going forward.
A club with a quick counter attacking style of play, using Rodriguez as false nine come centre attacking midfielder would be perfect, maybe Atletico Madrid?
Maybe not…
Written by James Clark
Follow James on Twitter @JamesMRClark
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