James Rodriguez made his mark at Real Madrid and Everton, so it seems bizarre that he wants Liverpool to beat ‘La Casa Blanca’ in the Champions League final.
The Colombian started his career with so much promise. After impressive spells with Porto and Monaco, he caught the world’s attention with his flashy skills and eye for goal. But it wasn’t until the 2014 World Cup that he really got tongues wagging.
In his country’s opening game against Greece, he scored a goal and assisted a further two en route to a 3-0 victory. He then continued his form by hitting the back of the net against Ivory Coast and Japan. This saw Colombia enter the knockout stages with serious momentum.
In a crunch tie against Uruguay, Rodriguez bagged an outrageous volley, winning the prestigious Puskas Award. Although his side crashed out of the tournament in the next round, the player’s performances warranted the dream move. He signed for Real Madrid and spent the next six years of his life at the club.
He then spent a period on loan with Bayern Munich before reuniting with Carlo Ancelotti at Everton, which makes his Champions League analysis peculiar.
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James Rodriguez wants Liverpool to beat Real Madrid
Having set foot on the Bernabeu pitch on countless occasions, you’d have thought the 30-year-old would have a sense of loyalty to his old side. Not to mention, as a former ‘Toffee’, he should despise Liverpool. But in a call that surprised many, he explained why he wants ‘The Reds’ to win a seventh European title in Paris.
As per esteemed sports journalist Pipe Sierra, he said: “I want Liverpool to be champion. I have many friends in Real Madrid, and it is a difficult team for this type of match, but I want Lucho (Díaz) to win.”
So there you have it, Rodriguez cares far more about his international teammates than his old sides. And who can blame him? It’s not exactly like he left those clubs in the greatest of circumstances.
His time in Spain came to an end after he struggled to get minutes. Furthermore, his spell in Merseyside finished because of his poor relationship with Rafa Benitez. According to Marca, the player lacked commitment, and the Spanish manager reacted furiously to images of the forward on a yacht in Ibiza, smoking and partying.
He now plays for the Qatari side Al-Rayyan, where he’s scored five goals in 14 appearances.
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