The 2024 Golden Boot winner flopped at Everton and faded away at Real Madrid but is still a maestro for ColombiaOn Monday, Rayo Vallecano released James Rodríguez on a free transfer. It hadn’t been much of a stay. In four and a half months at the club, he managed 136 minutes of league football. Only once did he start in La Liga. Rodríguez is 33 now. Since he left Everton in 2021, he has started just 37 league games and scored only 10 goals. This is the sixth season in a row in which he has been released on a free transfer as he has drifted from Real Madrid to the team currently 12th in the table, via Qatar, Greece and Brazil. The sense is of a waning career nearing its end.And yet in those three and a half years since his last game for Everton, Rodríguez has played 32 times for Colombia. While at Rayo, he has played 374 international minutes. True, he doesn’t often last a full game, but there are few other indications of decline. As Colombia reached the final of last year’s Copa Amé...
This article explores the paradox of James Rodríguez's career. Although he struggles to find success and consistency in club football, consistently getting released after short stints, he thrives and performs at his best level when playing for the Colombian national team. The author suggests that Rodríguez is a player who transcends the limitations of his current club career and shines brightest on the international stage.
This article explores the paradox of James Rodríguez's career. Although he struggles to find success and consistency in club football, consistently getting released after short stints, he thrives and performs at his best level when playing for the Colombian national team. The author suggests that Rodríguez is a player who transcends the limitations of his current club career and shines brightest on the international stage.