"I do well in knock out tournaments" - James Rodriguez eager to play Club World Cup

James Rodriguez assured, on Tuesday, that Eduardo Berizzo, coach of his new team, Leon, has asked him to replicate the role he assumes in his country's national team. “In the first practice I had with Berizzo, he spoke to me a lot about playing like I do in the Colombian national team. I think he will have an idea of that. It was just the first training with him; afterwards, I will have more talks. I hope to adapt to what he wants”, explained the midfielder during his presentation with León, the team he joined from Rayo Vallecano.

Last Monday, the 'Panzas verdes' confirmed the signing of James, top scorer of the Brazil 2014 World Cup, one of the best players that have arrived in Mexican football. “I am happy to start this new chapter. This club is a big family and, from the first minute, when I had the talk with the president, we agreed that the goal is to achieve important things. I'm very competitive, that's what I can add to the team, I'm looking forward to it,” added the 33-year-old.

The former Real Madrid playmaker admitted that one of the reasons that made him sign a one-year contract with Leon was the possibility of playing in next summer's Club World Cup, the first to be held with 32 teams and in which Berizzo's team is one of the five CONCACAF teams. “The Club World Cup also had an influence, it's a big competition that I want to play and I do well in knock out tournaments. I hope to be in good shape, but this is the present and our present is the domestic competition”.

Along with his new journey in Mexico, the native of Cucuta said that his sights are also set on qualifying, with Colombia, for the 2026 World Cup. “If I play and compete at 100% in Leon, it will be easier to play in the Colombian national team. All that remains is to train well to be in that longed-for World Cup that all Colombians want,” said the player named best player of the last Copa America.

 

January 14, 2025