There has been a lot of talk regarding the future of James Rodriguez. The Colombian playmaker hasn’t had consistent playing time at Real Madrid, and several outlets believe he will leave Los Merengues as soon as the Transfer Market opens in July.
There won’t be a shortage of offers for his services, though. Important clubs such as Inter Milan, Juventus, PSG, and Manchester City have seem interested in him. However, everything indicate he’s going to play in England next season. Barring a last-minute collapse, Rodriguez will play for Manchester United in the 2017-18 season. In fact, reports indicate the signing might be announced as soon as this weekend.
There’s no question James and Manchester United are a perfect fit for each other. The Red Devils lack a superstar player, and James would be a huge signing both on and off the field. He would boost the team’s credibility, sales, marketing, and overall talent of the squad. Furthermore, Jose Mourinho has been looking to sign for quite a while. And if they get him, it would mean the management will do whatever it takes to put the team back on the European elite.
Tactics-wise, James fits perfectly in Mourinho’s gameplan. With three creative players sitting behind a lone striker, The Special One has been using Paul Pogba in that role. But the presence of James would change everything for the better. His arrival would put Pogba as a central midfielder, the role where he excelled in Juventus.
As if that wasn’t enough, James would make the team far more dangerous. He offers creativity, long-range shot, and a constant threat to either assist or score. He would complement perfectly with creative players such as Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney, Pogba, and Marcus Rashford.
And of course, we have seen he’s capable of carrying the team. He did with Real Madrid in his first year, with Monaco upon his arrival, and with the Colombia National Team during the 2014 World Cup. Here are some of the highlights he produced during that tournament with Los Cafeteros:
It seems both parties would win if the signing becomes a reality. James would get the playing time he deserves. Manchester United would get a superstar player for the second straight season. And most importantly, soccer fans all over the world would have a huge change to see one of the most talented playmakers in the world flourish in the best league in the world.