Report: Real Madrid will put a price tag of “at least €50m” on James Rodriguez

The future of James Rodriguez after the conclusion of the loan agreement between Bayern Munich and Real Madrid became a bit murkier this week as Zinedine Zidane was named manager of Los Blancos. The return of the French legend could have ramifications on the future of the Colombian star.

Per a report by AS, Real Madrid will sell James for at least €50m should Bayern Munich decline to exercise the €42m option to buy the 27-year-old outright. AS reports,

It seems increasingly improbable that James Rodríguez will be back at the Bernabéu next season. The Real Madrid midfielder, who is currently on a two-year loan at German champions Bayern Munich, has frequently suggested that he is keen to return to his parent club this summer, but Zinedine Zidane’s re-appointment as Los Blancos’ coach looks to have made that an unlikely eventuality.

Given the history of Zidane and James, the chances that the midfielder will return to Madrid on a permanent basis seem increasingly slim. Instead, Los Blancos seem likely to flip the former Golden Boot winner for a handsome payday. According to AS,

Should Bayern opt against making James’ stay permanent, reports the Spanish newspaper El Confidencial, Madrid will seek to raise transfer funds by finding another buyer — and slapping a higher price tag on the 27-year-old. Club president Florentino Pérez is also planning to bring in revenue by selling Mateo Kovacic, who is presently on loan at Premier League club Chelsea.

”Bayern have paid Real Madrid 6.5 million euros a year for each season [that James has been on loan in Munich], and if they want to keep him they will have to activate a purchase clause set at 42 million euros,” El Confidencial said on Thursday. “If Bayern finally decide not to keep the player, Madrid will put him on the market for 60 million euros, an initial asking price that they won’t drop any lower than 50.”

Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge recently stated that he would like to see James return to Bavaria, but there is at least some lingering doubt about whether the Colombian wants to spend the next stage of his career in Munich. While James has often spoken diplomatically about Bayern in public, what happens behind closed doors on Säbener Strasse is said to be different.

James meanwhile has also spoken of his fondness for Real Madrid, while Juventus and Arsenal are also reportedly keen to bring in the Colombian. Regardless, Bayern has until June 15th to decide whether it wants to exercise its purchase option on the former Monaco man.