Official: James Rodriguez leaves Madrid for Bayern Munich on two-year loan
The Colombian leaves Real Madrid having falled out of favour
Bayern have the right to make the deal permanent in 2019
Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have reached an agreement for James Rodriguez to join the German club on an initial two-year loan deal.
Bayern then reserve the right to sign James on a permanent basis in 2019, with reports suggesting Madrid will receive 10 million euros for the first two years and then a further 35 million euros if the deal is made permanent.
“Real Madrid C. F. and Bayern Munich have agreed to the loan of the player James Rodroguez for the next two seasons, pending the relevant medical check-up,” the Spanish and European champions confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.
“Bayern Munich reserve the right to purchase the player at the end of the loan period.”
Bayern coach Carlo Ancelotti, who previously worked with James while Madrid boss, is thought to be the major reason why the Bundesliga side have managed to push through a deal for the Colombian international.
James was a regular under Ancelotti at the Santiago Bernabeu having joined Madrid from Monaco for 80 million euros in 2014, but has struggled for minutes under both Rafa Benitez and Zinedine Zidane.
With Isco, Marco Asensio and Mateo Kovacic all ahead of him in the pecking order -- plus the impending arrivals of Dani Ceballos and Marcos Llorente -- it was widely expected he would be moved on this summer to free up some space in midfield.
Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain were also credited with an interest, but Ancelotti’s persistence proved the key.
“We’re delighted we’ve been able to complete this transfer,” Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the club’s official website.
“Signing James Rodriguez was our coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest wish, following their successful spell working together in Madrid.
“James is a very versatile player. He’s a goalscorer himself, he sets up a lot of goals and on top of that he’s great from set-pieces. There’s no question that this transfer further increases the quality in our team.”
#ServusJames! 👋#MiaSanMia pic.twitter.com/M39DMgw3oi
— FC Bayern München (@FCBayern) 11 de julio de 2017
Bienvenido @jamesdrodriguez
— Mats Hummels (@matshummels) 11 de julio de 2017
Comunicado Oficial: James Rodríguez.https://t.co/Zi0929nlGU#RealMadrid pic.twitter.com/DkUifruIlt
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) 11 de julio de 2017
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