Everton playmaker James Rodriguez has revealed that he almost signed for Atletico Madrid the summer before he came to Everton.
The Colombian made the switch to Goodison Park from Real Madrid on a free transfer, having fallen out of favour at the Santiago Bernabeu under Zinedine Zidane.
The 29-year old has played an integral role for the Toffees this season, scoring five goals and assisting four in 18 Premier League games. [Transfermarkt]
Talking exclusively to ESPN Colombia, James revealed that he came close to joining Real Madrid’s local rivals Atletico, only for Los Galacticos to block the switch.
James said: “It was nearly a done deal to go to Atletico.
“I spoke with [Diego] Simeone, he said I could be important, and [Real] didn’t let me go.
“Florentino Perez knew that with Zidane that I wouldn’t play much. It was a bad year, I wanted to come to Everton to play and show what I can do.”
Rodriguez also conceded that he wouldn’t have signed for Everton had Ancelotti not been manager of the club, with the Colombian having played under him at both Madrid and Bayern Munich.
James added: “I’ll say it with all sincerity that if Carlo weren’t here, I wouldn’t have come. The fact that Carlo is here was fundamental to come, where I am learning every day.”
Stroke of luck
It seems as though Florentino Perez did Everton a mighty favour by blocking Rodriguez’s transfer to Atletico, so the club must consider that a large stroke of luck.
It’s also very illuminating that he said he only came to Everton because of Carlo Ancelotti.
In that respect, it truly cannot be understated how important an appointment Ancelotti was, because without him we’d be in a much more difficult position when approaching talent in the transfer market.
James has suffered slightly over the last month or so with injury and we haven’t been able to see the best of him, but he showed such flashes of brilliance in the opening months of the campaign that his return could see the Blues reap the rewards.
If Everton want to continue growing and continue attracting top talent they’ll need to bring European football to Merseyside next season, and hopefully James can help us do just that.
In other Everton news, Everton reportedly make move for 20y/o forward available for £8.5m.
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