Jorge Mendes set for Italy meeting this week for talks over Everton star James Rodriguez
The agent of James Rodriguez is due in Italy this week for talks over the Colombian’s exit from Everton, according to Rudy Galetti.
Jorge Mendes, the world-renowned super-agent, is due to speak to Serie A giants AC Milan.
That’s according to the Italian journalist Galetti, who regularly appears on Il Pallone Gonfiato. He wrote on his personal Twitter profile: “Jorge Mendes will be in Italy this week for a meeting with AC Milan to talk about Rafael Leao and James Rodriguez.”
Everton exit on the agenda
There have been increasing noises in the past few weeks that the 29-year-old’s future lies elsewhere, after a mixed debut season on Merseyside.
Rodriguez starred in the opening few weeks of the 2020/21 campaign after arriving from Real Madrid, but his second half of the season was a huge disappointment as he spent a large chunk of it on the sidelines as we laboured to a 10th-place finish.
The Athletic Everton correspondent Greg O’Keeffe recently spoke to the Ask Ornstein YouTube show [02/07/21] and discussed the future of Rodriguez.
O’Keeffe suggested that he may be set to leave the club this summer, particularly after the arrival of Rafa Benitez as the new manager, someone the Colombian reportedly fell out with at Real Madrid.
Therefore, it’s no surprise to hear Mendes is trying to secure the best possible exit for his client, and a move to Champions League outfit AC Milan would certainly be an attractive one for Rodriguez.
However, while Mendes might agree on terms with the Italian giants, the transfer will have to be conducted to our liking. Personal terms may not be a problem between Rodriguez and AC Milan, but we should still receive a decent sum for his services this summer before his exit is sanctioned.
Regarding Leao, there has been speculation regarding a move to Everton, but Galetti reported himself on Sunday [04/07/21] that Leao had rejected a move, so there is no suggestion from his side that the meeting with Milan is over any swap deal or the like.
In other Everton news, Lee Dixon aims thinly-veiled swipe at Blues supporters amid online fan fury over 27-year-old.
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