Rafa Benitez speaks out about James Rodriguez in first Everton press conference
Rafa Benitez held his first press conference as Everton manager on Wednesday and the topic of James Rodriguez’s future was brought up.
Rodriguez, 30, shone for the Blues at the start of his first season on Merseyside last time out but he faltered towards the end and fitness became a massive issue.
The Athletic’s Greg O’Keeffe admitted after Benitez was hired by the Toffees that the Spaniard’s arrival at Goodison Park wasn’t great news and it could lead to the Colombia international leaving.
When asked about Rodriguez on Wednesday, Benitez was quoted by Sky Sports journalist Ben Grounds as saying: ” It’s more important to talk about the team rather than individual.
“Everyone needs to keep doing their jobs, but it’s better not to talk about individuals as it’s not fair on the other players.”
Hardly conclusive
Benitez doesn’t want to be anywhere other than on the fence, it seems.
Of course, that’s what the public will see but there’s no doubt that behind the scenes, the new Everton manager is likely to have made his mind up about the Colombia, who he managed at Real Madrid.
According to the Liverpool Echo, the playmaker has already been offered to clubs around Europe and in all honesty, we can see why.
Rodriguez is someone who could make us a fair bit of money and getting him off the wage bill will allow Benitez and Marcel Brands to add to the squad with players the manager wants.
We’ll have to wait and see how all of this develops but we can see it leading to just the one outcome and that’s Rodriguez bidding farewell to Merseyside after just one year.
Let’s face it, he’s been a massive disappointment.
When the going got tough, what did he do? Did he knuckle down and work hard to help arrest our slump?
No, he struggled to keep himself fit and that image of him smiling on a private jet is all you need to know about a player who clearly doesn’t care for this great club.
In other Everton news, Brands is set to hold transfer talks with this Blues star’s manager.
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