According to a report from Marca, James Rodriguez hopes to leave Bayern Munich and return to Real Madrid over the summer.
With just four games left in their 2018-19 season, Bayern Munich no doubt not only have their eyes on completing the domestic double but also on strengthening their squad for next season.
The Bavarians are in a rebuilding phase of sorts, with several veteran players either heading toward the exit door or entering into the final years of their careers. Three players have already confirmed their departures at the end of the season: Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery and Rafinha.
Those three players, each of whom are well into their 30s, might not be the only players leaving Munich over the summer. There could be a few players sold, while Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez might return to Real Madrid once his two-year loan spell comes to an end.
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James joined Bayern on loan in the summer of 2017, and Die Roten have the option to make his transfer permanent for €42 million. Whether or not they’ll exercise that option has been a hot topic for much of the past year.
Marca claim to have the latest info on the subject. Their newest report suggests James is not keen to stay in Munich beyond this season. He feels “let down at the lack of confidence and trust that the German club has shown him.”
James’ time in Germany has been turbulent to say the least. Injuries kept him from breaking into the starting lineup for his first few months in Bavaria. However, he quickly became an important player under Jupp Heynckes and was arguably the squad’s best player by the end of the season.
Things haven’t been so smooth under Niko Kovac. James has struggled intensely with injuries yet again, but even when he’s been fit his performances have been inconsistent. He’s been unplayable against some opponents, but he’s failed to step up the occasion against others.
At this point, it seems much more likely that Bayern allow James to move on than it does that they opt to make his move permanent. He’s clearly an outstanding player, but it’s hard to see how he fits in at the club. Thomas Muller is the better option to play behind Robert Lewandowski, and the Bavarians haven’t used a traditional number 10 in some time.
It’s also for that reason that Bayern are unlikely to look for a like-for-like replacement for James should he leave. Instead, they’ll likely invest more heavily on the wings and continue to play with more of a second striker — like Thomas Muller — than an actual number 10.