Everton Football Club has completed the signing of Columbian midfielder James Rodriguez from Spanish giants Real Madrid bringing an end to speculation about his future.
The two time UEFA Champions League winner joins his former boss at the Bernabeu, Carlo Ancelotti, now at Goodison Park on a two-year deal, with a club option to extend for a third season and will be hoping to rediscover the form that saw him registering 26 G/A in 29 games claiming La Liga’s best midfielder gong in 2014/2015 season.
While speaking to the club website, evertonfc.com he expressed his happiness to join a club of Everton’s stature and the possibility of working with Ancelotti again before assuring the Ever.
He has won eight domestic titles, across four countries, claimed two Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and, when at Porto, was a Europa League winner in 2010/11.
“I am really, really happy to be at this great club, a club with so much history, and here with a manager who knows me really well,” James told evertonfc.com.
“I’m looking forward to achieving great things here – and winning things, which is what everyone’s aim is.
“I’ve come here to try to improve, to get better. I’ve also come here to help the team to win, to play good football – entertaining football.
“I’m convinced, with Carlo and his technical staff, we can achieve big things and one of the big reasons [I signed] was the presence of Carlo Ancelotti.
“I have enjoyed some great times with him previously at two different clubs. That was a massive reason to come here.”
James moved to Spain from French side AS Monaco directly after claiming the World Cup Golden Boot with his six goals at the 2014 competition in Brazil.
He scored in all five of his country’s matches, enhancing a reputation which was already growing following a season with Monaco when he directly contributed to 22 goals – scoring nine – in 34 league games and was named in Ligue 1’s team of the year.
James crowned his debut Spanish season, when Real Madrid won both the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup, by being named in UEFA’S team of the year. He was part of a Real team that won successive Champions Leagues in 2015/16 and 2016/17, adding the La Liga crown and UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup to the second of those European titles.
“I’m a winner, I’m a real winner,” Rodriguez added. “I can see the plans here, the project here is very serious. Everyone means business.
“I think the seriousness and determination to win trophies can lead to silverware.
“I can see, too, these fans are real, true supporters.
EXCLUSIVE: JAMES’ FIRST EVERTON INTERVIEW
Colombia international speaks to evertontv.
“I hope we can have a good, positive, mutual feeling between ourselves.
“What they can be sure of is I am going to give everything in every game situation, every play, every build-up. I will be trying my absolute best.
“I have sensed that good feeling right from the very start, and it is excellent.”https://xd.wayin.com/display/container/dc/21e6d296-1f9a-4435-95f6-ca40d4ffe7a8
Everton manager Ancelotti added: “James, as everyone knows, is a fantastic player with a lot of quality and a lot of ability to make assists for the strikers.
“He’s really excited about the project of the Club and the fact we want to improve. He was really excited to sign and I didn’t spend time to convince him – he was already convinced.
“Players like James and Allan can help us to be better and we can help them to be better. This kind of connection can be helpful to improve the results, the team and results of this Club.”
James was named in the team of the tournament at last year’s Copa America, where Colombia reached the quarter-finals.
He has 76 international caps and 22 goals – in addition to 25 assists – following a debut against Bolivia in October 2011, netting his first strike the following June in a meeting with Peru.
