James Rodriguez tells fans he has to be at a club where he’s ‘wanted’ after new Everton boss Rafael Benitez ‘makes him available for move’… but rules out joining Carlo Ancelotti at former side Real Madrid
- Everton playmaker James Rodriguez has admitted to uncertainty over his future
- The Colombia midfielder was signed by Carlo Ancelotti, who left Everton in June
- New boss Rafael Benitez is reportedly ready to sell Rodriguez for the right price
- Rodriguez says he will not be reunited with Ancelotti at former side Real Madrid
Everton midfielder James Rodriguez has confessed that his situation is ‘complicated’ and he does not know where his future lies following the arrival of Rafael Benitez at Goodison Park.
The Colombia playmaker was seen as a coup for the club when he was signed by Ancelotti, who he had worked with at Real Madrid, at the start of last season.
After playing a pivotal role in the Toffees hitting the top of the table shortly afterwards, Rodriguez contributed a solitary goal in Everton’s final 14 league matches, playing in only five of those games as his side finished tenth in the Premier League.
New Everton coach Rafael Benitez (right) could allow James Rodriguez to leave Goodison Park
Ex-Toffees manager Carlo Ancelotti brought Rodriguez to Everton before rejoining Real Madrid
Benitez, who succeeded Ancelotti following the Italian’s shock return to Madrid at the end of the season, is rumoured to be ready to let Rodriguez leave in the current transfer window for the right price.
Rodriguez told fans on a live Twitch stream: ‘I don’t know what’s going to happen. I don’t know – I don’t know where I’m going to play.
‘You know that in football and in life you don’t know anything, but all I know is that I’ve been training hard, preparing well, training for myself and that’s it.
‘It’s complicated. [I will play] wherever I’m wanted. Someone has to be at a place they’re wanted.’
Rodriguez has denied that he will return to the Bernabeu to be reunited with admirer Ancelotti
Despite spending more than six years at the Bernabeu and playing for Ancelotti at Bayern Munich on loan during that spell, Rodriguez has emphatically denied that he will follow the revered coach to the Spanish giants.
‘Are you going back to Real Madrid?’ he asked. ‘No, I don’t think so. That is a closed cycle which I won’t repeat.’
The 30-year-old featured as Everton continued their pre-season preparations by winning the Florida Cup on penalties on Sunday.
He was not called up for his country’s Copa America campaign, which ended with defeat to Peru in the third place play-off.
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