Former Real Madrid Midfielder James Rodriguez Reportedly Agrees to Join Galatasaray from Qatari Club Al Rayyan

Former Real Madrid Midfielder James Rodriguez Reportedly Agrees to Join Galatasaray from Qatari Club Al Rayyan

Edwin Kiplagat
updated at April 12, 2023 at 8:11 PM
  • Former Everton, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich star, has 'agreed' to join Galatasaray on loan from Qatari side Al-Rayyan
  • The 31-year-old left Everton a year ago following a disappointing spell in Merseyside and now wants to return to Europe
  • The Colombian was reportedly ready to take a pay cut last week to play for Gennaro Gattuso's Valencia

2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez has 'agreed' to join Turkish club Galatasaray on loan from Qatari side Al-Rayyan. If he completes the move, the Turkish giants will be the 9th club of his career.

According to the Daily Mail, the 31-year-old has told the club that he wants to return to Europe, a year after he left Everton. Furthermore, the Colombian was willing to take a pay cut last week to join La Liga side Valencia.

James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez poses with the Champions trophy after the final in Cardiff, Wales 2017. Photo: Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

According to reports in Turkey, Rodriguez has already 'agreed' to the move but both sides are still hammering out a way to pay his £5.2m-a-year salary.

Rodriguez had a respectable stint in the Middle East. In 15 matches, he scored five goals while assisting seven.

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James Rodriguez has had an Injury-plagued career

Rodriguez's career has been plagued by injury in the last couple of seasons and has failed to recapture the form he produced in the 2014 World Cup and his spells in Real Madrid and occasionally at Bayern Munich.

Prior to joining the Toffees, the attacker won two Champions League titles with Real Madrid as well as league trophies with Porto, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

If he joins Galatasaray, he will hope to help the Turkish giants bounce back to the top following an underwhelming 2021/2022 season where they finished 13th.

James Rodriguez, Real Madrid
James Rodriguez receives his 2014 World Cup Golden Boot Trophy at Real Madrid's Valdebebas on August 8, 2014 in Madrid, Spain. Photo by Antonio Villalba/Real Madrid via Getty Images
Source: Getty Images

Rodriguez set to team up with Mertens, Torreira, Icardi and Mata

Galatasaray is the most successful club in Turkey. they have 22 league titles to their name. In addition, the Colombian will be excited to join forces with stars like Juan Mata and Mauro Icardi whose deals are expected to be finalised. Ex-Napoli attacker Dries Mertens and former Arsenal midfielder Lucas Torreira have also joined the Turkish club.

Sports Brief earlier reported last week that Rodriguez was ready and willing to a pay cut in order to join Edinson Cavani's Valencia.

The Colombian's career has steadily declined since producing an unforgettable performance at the biggest stage of all, the 2014 World Cup. When the move to Turkey materializes, he would want to rekindle some of that form.

The former Bayern Munich star has 86 caps and 24 goals for Colombia. He has also appeared for Envigardo in Colombia, Banfield in Argentina Porto and Monaco.

Authors
Edwin Kiplagat photo
Edwin Kiplagat
Edwin Kiplagat has five years of experience in journalism working as a Sports Editor at Africa Insight Communications and ESPN. Edwin Kiplagat is a Bachelor's Degree holder in journalism from the Multimedia University of Kenya.
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