BAYERN MUNICH have announced a two year loan deal for Real Madrid outcast James Rodriguez.
The Colombian was linked with a move to Manchester United but German giants Bayern have snapped up the midfielder until 2019.
Rodriguez, 25, will earn £4.4million per season and Bayern will have the option to make the deal permanent for £31m.
Bayern chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: “We’re delighted we’ve been able to complete this transfer.
“Signing James Rodríguez 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.”
Rodriguez has been looking for a new club after struggling to convince Zinedine Zidane of his place at the Bernabeu.
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James Rodriguez factfile
- Born James David Rodriguez Rubio in July 1991, in Cucuta, Colombia.
- He played in the Colombian second division before moving to Argentinian side Banfield in 2008 where he was nicknamed James Bond
- In July 2010 James moved to Porto for £4.5million, with a £26million buy-out clause.
- A move to Manchester United in 2013 fell through when Porto asked for more money.
- The skillful midfielder joined Monaco for £40million, and scored 10 goals in 38 games in France.
- James shot to world fame at the 2014 World Cup when he won the Golden Boot thanks to six goals including a dazzling volley against Uruguay.
- Real Madrid snapped him up for £70million after the World Cup but he has failed to blossom at the Bernabeu.
- He is married to Daniela, a volleyball player who is also sister of Colombia team-mate and Arsenal keeper David Ospina.
Manchester United and Chelsea were both monitoring his situation but seem to have been priced out of a deal.
Bayern have managed to get the Colombian ace on a two-year loan deal with the option to buy.
Rodriguez, 25, joined Real under Ancelotti’s stewardship back in 2014 from Monaco.
He joined just after their Champions League win that year that win the club ‘La Decima’.
Rodriguez found the net 11 times last season as Cristiano Ronaldo and co marched to the La Liga title, ahead of rivals Barcelona and Atletico Madrid.
The writing has been on the wall for Rodriguez for some time though and Zidane’s snub for the Champions League final squad in Cardiff may have been the final straw for Rodriguez.
Zidane was completely vindicated, as Real went on to beat Juventus 4-1 in the Principality Stadium as they tore the Italian club to shreds.
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