Club Leon star James Rodriguez reveals why he chose Real Madrid over PSG and Manchester City
James Rodriguez made a memorable impact at the 2014 FIFA World Cup at just 23 years old, attracting interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs. Now rediscovering his form at Club Leon, the Colombian star has revealed why he ultimately chose Real Madrid over offers from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City.
During the 2013-14 season, James established himself as one of AS Monaco’s standout players in France. However, it was his dazzling World Cup campaign that truly put him on the map. Despite Colombia’s quarterfinal exit against Brazil, James finished as the tournament’s top scorer with six goals in five games — one of them earning him the prestigious Puskas Award.
In a conversation with Edu Aguirre on the Spanish program Los amigos de Edu, James revealed how his agent informed him about Real Madrid’s interest during the World Cup: “In the second or third match of the World Cup, (Jorge) Mendes told me that Madrid wanted me but they were afraid it might distract me. I said, ‘What?’ and then I scored one goal against Japan and two against Uruguay — it was the opposite. I played even better.”
The midfielder also revealed how Real Madrid president Florentino Perez played a pivotal role in his decision. “City and PSG offered a lot of money for me, but Florentino called and said to me: ‘Do you want glory or money?‘ I answered, ‘Glory.’ Then he told me, ‘It’s done then,'” he recalled.
“I’ve always been a Madridista. Not even if Barça had called me in 2014… Madrid is Madrid, man,” he added. James spent three seasons with the Spanish giants, winning nine titles, including two UEFA Champions League trophies.
James reflects on his best coaches
At 33 years old, James Rodriguez has worked with numerous top managers throughout his career, but he credits two coaches in particular for making the greatest impact. When asked about Zinedine Zidane’s success, James pointed to the Frenchman’s exceptional man-management skills: “Why did Zidane succeed? It had a lot to do with how he managed the group. In a team like that, if you have that, that’s it.”
He also drew comparisons to Carlo Ancelotti, whom he considers the best coach he’s worked with. “It’s like Ancelotti, the same thing — why does everyone perform well with him? Kaka, Ballon d’Or winner, Maldini, Cristiano, me, Vinicius, Rodrygo… No one speaks badly about him. Carlo is spectacular, for me the best in the world, here, at Bayern, or at Everton,” he emphasized.
Having worked with Ancelotti at Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Everton, James revealed years ago that the Italian coach played a key role in convincing him to join the Premier League side.