Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez has insisted on staying at the Bernabeu ‘for many years’ in spite of not starting as many games under Zinedine Zidane as he did in his debut 2014/15 season. The Colombian, who rose to fame during the 2014 World Cup where he won the Golden Boot, did not play a part in the Champions League final.
Los Blancos beat city rivals Atletico Madrid 5-3 in the penalty shootout in Milan on Saturday to clinch their 11th European title. But Rodriguez was neither in the starting lineup nor did he come off the bench with Zidane opting to start with Luka Modric, Toni Kroos and Casemiro. even when Kroos was substituted, it was Isco who got the nod ahead of Rodriguez.
The 24-year-old made the news when the Spanish club paid AS Monaco €75m to secure his services. Although he played a major role last season, scoring 17 goals in all competitions, he has been reduced to playing a bit part role this season. He has only made 17 starts in the league and three starts in the Champions League in 2015/16, scoring 8 goals this season.
Casemiro has been Zidane’s go-to man with the French manager refusing to make the same mistakes former boss Rafa Benitez made. The current Newcastle United manager was under pressure to start Rodriguez in every game and it cost Madrid in the league with the 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Barcelona in the Clasico the nadir of his tenure.
Zidane, on the other hand, recognized the need for Casemiro in midfield to balance the squad. His inclusion allowed Modric and Kroos to focus on attack while he cleaned up behind them and also helped the side keep possession and circulate the ball.
I want to stay at Real Madrid for many years: Rodriguez
Speaking about his campaign with the all-whites, he said: “The season was a little strange. But when you have bad things you learn too, eventually you learn every day.”
When he was questioned about his future, he was non-committal but stated that he wanted to stay at the club for the seasons to come.
“You never know in football. But I want to stay here and my idea is to be here for many more years.
“I think I need to look forward,” he continued. “I'm happy here. All my people are happy. This is the ideal club and I want to be here.”
On the final itself, he said he was happy to win a medal and satisfied with the result.
“I'm happy, everyone played a great game and, in the end, it was good. I wanted the team to win, what's best is I get another Champions League.”
