Rodriguez to rekindle career under Ancelotti at Bayern
BERLIN: After a frustrating spell at Real Madrid, James Rodriguez will attempt to kick-start his career at Bayern Munich next season, back under the stewardship of Carlo Ancelotti.
Colombian hot-shot Rodriguez on Tuesday joined his former Real boss at the German champions on a two-year loan.
Bayern have the option to buy the 2014 World Cup top-scorer at the end of the deal.
“Signing James Rodriguez was our coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest wish, following their successful spell working together in Madrid,” said Bayern’s chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge.
“There’s no question that this transfer further increases the quality in our team.”
Instead of flying west to Los Angeles for Real’s tour of the USA, Rodriguez, 25, will be jetting east with Bayern on Sunday when the Germans visit China and Singapore.
Bayern’s Germany defender Mats Hummels wasted no time in welcoming the Colombian, who scored six goals at the World Cup, by writing “Bienvenido @jamesrodriguez” on Twitter.
Rodriguez will boost Bayern’s star-studded attack along with fellow new signing Corentin Tolisso, 22, who has joined from French side Lyon for €41.5 million (RM204 million).
Rodriguez has the chance to again prosper under Ancelotti.
He is a big-name summer signing which Bayern need with Brazil’s Douglas Costa negotiating a transfer with Juventus.
It’s unfair to assume James was a failure at Real as the attacking midfielder scored 36 goals with 38 assists in 110 games for the Spanish giants. AFP