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James Rodriguez has been a revelation since his arrival from Real Madrid last summer. Although speculation surrounding his future has persisted since the departure of Jupp Heynckes, his technical ability and creative talents have made him a fan favorite in Bavaria. Despite the Colombian international’s reported desire to leave, he put in a top notch for Die Roten scoring a goal in the demolition of Bayer Leverkusen.
Following the victory, Fox Sports correspondent Ezequiel Daray reported that the Colombian international was unhappy with his playing time (video here; quotes via ComuTricolor.com).
Although he scored one goal and the other was disallowed, James Rodriguez left quite angry.
The source of James’s unhappiness was rooted in an alleged request made by Bayern manager Niko Kovac that he forego joining Colombia during the last international break:
He thought he would start this game because Niko Kovac asked him to stay and not to travel with Colombia.
If Kovac asked James to stay home without laying out his plans, that may present a potential problem, but Daray went on to speculate that the Colombian playmaker may feature in more significant matches.
He has to play against Benfica for Champions League in the week and Kovac already said: “I have very good players and everyone is going to play.”
This all may be much ado about nothing. Despite Daray’s credibility, transfer rumors around James are guaranteed to garner attention, especially when they include Real Madrid. If James is angry, the Bavarian bosses have time to salvage the relationship or (and) profit.
It is true that Rodriguez has received limited playing time due to injury and a late return from the World Cup. James can and should play a vital role for the Rekordmeister in the midfield and on the wing. Time out wide may be easier to come by, but the quality of Bayern’s number eleven is unquestionable. Whether the Bavarian brass decide to stick with the Colombian or sell him at a profit, James will benefit Bayern moving forward.