Ex-Real Madrid star James Rodriguez to play in Club World Cup following Leon move

Colombian James Rodriguez left Rayo Vallecano on Monday after agreeing the termination of his contract with the Madrid club, which informed the club of the decision and the agreement with Club Leon of Mexico for the transfer of the player.

James Rodriguez has had a very brief spell at Rayo Vallecano, a club he joined on 26th August 2024 and from which he leaves just four and a half months later without playing a major role, playing 205 minutes in 7 matches (6 in La Liga and 1 in the Copa del Rey), only 2 as a starter.

All the illusion with which the Colombian came to Vallecas, willing to vindicate himself again in the Spanish competition after being voted best player of the Copa America 2024, has vanished in a few months. From the beginning he was relegated to the bench and his coach, Inigo Perez, has never seen him as a real possibility to be a starter and settle in the starting eleven.

The last time James was called up was on 7th December 2024 to sit on the bench against Valencia. He did not play. He also did not play against Girona, Alaves, Athletic Club Bilbao, Sevilla and Valencia.

The departure of James opens Rayo to the possibility of incorporating another offensive player in the squad while for the Colombian his brief stay in Vallecas has not served to vindicate himself as he wanted after a journey that in the last 7 and a half years has led him to wear the shirts of Bayern Munich (2017-2019), Real Madrid (2019-2020), Everton (2020/2021), Al-Rayyan (2021-2022), Olympiacos (2022-2023) and Sao Paulo (2023-2024).

 

January 13, 2025