James Rodriguez claims he WOULD make a dramatic return to Everton

Are you sure, James?! Colombia star Rodriguez claims he WOULD make a sensational return to Everton, as he blames former boss Rafa Benitez for ‘not counting on him’ after being frozen out and sold to Qatari club Al-Rayyan

  • James Rodriguez signed for Everton in the summer of 2020 from Real Madrid 
  • The Colombian showed glimpses of his talent at Goodison under Carlo Ancelotti
  • But he was clearly not in Rafael Benitez’s plans and was sold to Al-Rayyan 
  • Rodriguez says he ‘would have liked to have been at Everton for much longer’ 

James Rodriguez did not hold back when talking about his departure from Everton under Rafa Benitez last summer, insisting he wanted to be at the Toffees for ‘much longer’ and did not rule out returning to the ‘spectacular’ club. 

Colombian playmaker Rodriguez moved to the Toffees from Goodison Park in the summer of 2020 as he was reunited with former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti. 

Yet after the Italian coach rejoined Madrid and Rafa Benitez came in, Rodriguez was sold to Qatari club Al-Rayyan in September for £7m yet he has now has opened up on his departure – and has not closed the door on a dramatic return. 


James Rodriguez didn’t hold back after talking about his Everton departure under Rafa Benitez

Colombia international Rodriguez has not closed the door on a dramatic return to Everton

‘I would have liked to have been at Everton for much longer,’ Rodriguez said on Twitch.

‘It’s a spectacular club, the fans are incredible, but I ran into a coach who didn’t want to count on me. I wanted to be there. Unfortunately, the coach didn’t want to count on me.

‘But I’d come back, why not, I left everything, I always trained, worked and the Everton fanbase is very big and supports well.’ 

Rodriguez scored six goals and registered nine assists during his first season in English football, with a bright start curtailed by numerous injuries throughout the campaign. 

Despite the potential shown however, the 30-year-old did not impress former Liverpool manager Benitez enough in pre-season to keep him, despite having a year left to run on his original two-year deal. 

Rodriguez scored six goals and registered nine assists at Everton under Carlo Ancelotti

Everton and Brazil star Richarlison spoke recently about how ‘nobody understood’ why Benitez decided to offload Rodriguez. 

‘When I got back from the Olympics, even I was surprised by how much he was running and how dedicated he was in training. He was training well,’ he told Brazilian outlet TNT Sports of Rodriguez.

‘Then, out of nowhere, the coach told him that he didn’t have him in his plans. Nobody understood a thing. It weighed heavily on the group because we all knew James’ quality.’

Since then, Benitez has been sacked and Frank Lampard has taken his place in the hotseat at Goodison Park.   




Share this article


Source: Read Full Article