James Rodriguez, 33, ‘to become unemployed for fifth time in five years’ despite winning Copa America best player award
JAMES RODRIGUEZ is set to become unemployed for the fifth year straight as he reportedly eyes a return to Europe.
The 33-year-old playmaker rolled back the years this summer as he was crowned best player of the tournament at Copa America.
He produced six assists to help fire Colombia to the final, only for he and his team-mates to suffer heartbreak with a 1-0 defeat to Argentina.
That standout former from the ex-Real Madrid ace came despite the fact that he endured a difficult campaign at club level.
Rodiguez moved to Brazil last summer to sign for Sao Paulo but he played just 36 minutes of top-flight action.
Now journalist Garcia Grova has stated that he is set to terminate his contract with them.
And he wants to try his luck in Europe once again after proving that he still has a lot to offer.
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano has also backed that up by offering an update on the situation.
He posted on X: “James Rodriguez, set to be available as free agent terminating his contract by mutual agreement with São Paulo.
“He’s set to part ways with the club after excellent Copa América. James would love to return to European football.”
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Rodriguez recently teased a potential return to Everton.
He joined the Toffees in 2020 to reunite with his former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich boss Carlo Ancelotti.
The attacker became a cult hero at Goodison Park, before being frozen out by Ancelotti’s unpopular successor Rafael Benitez.
Since leaving Merseyside, Rodriguez has played for Al-Rayyan, Olympiacos and Sao Paulo.
But he has found himself out of favour at the Brazilian club under new manager Luis Zubeldia.
And now everything suggests that he will be on the move once again.
It was back at the 2014 World Cup when Rodriguez burst on the scene as one of the hottest properties in football.
But amid offers from Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, he opted to join Real Madrid after lighting up the tournament in Brazil.
On why he came to that decision, he revealed last month: “PSG and City wanted me [in 2014], both teams came with more important offers than what Madrid were offering.
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“Florentino Perez called me and tried to convince me, ‘What do you want? Money or Glory?’
“I answered him I wanted glory, and he then said, ‘well then it’s done.’”
Rodriguez went on to win two LaLiga titles and a pair of Champions Leagues with Real Madrid.
He then spent two years on loan at Bayern Munich between 2017 and 2019, adding a pair of Bundesliga titles to his trophy collection.
He returned to Real Madrid for the 2019-20 campaign, before joining Everton in September 2020.
Rodriguez starred 26 times for the Toffees, scoring six goals and laying on eight assists but they could only finish 10th.