In what was one of the stories of the week, Real Madrid, and Atletico Madrid were slapped with bans on transfer activity for the next two transfer windows.
But that does not involve the sale of players and both Madrid clubs are free to let go of players that have no role in the squad in the next two seasons.
One such player who might be on his way out of the club as early as January is Columbian starlet James Rodriguez.
The 25-year old attacker moved to Spain from AS Monaco back in 2014 for a mind-boggling fee of £60m and Rodriguez made a great start to his career at the club scoring some important goals in his time in Spain.
However, he has fallen out of favor this season having been given just over half an hour of football in the first three weekend of the La Liga. He is now below Alvaro Morata, Isco and even Marco Asensio, the new bloke on Zidane’s mind, and is looking to move away from the Bernabeu as soon as possible.
He was extensively linked with a move to a number of European clubs in the recently concluded transfer window but he was not able to strike a deal with any of the clubs and will once again have to start negotiations with top European clubs who are ready to meet his valuation.
It is revealed that Real Madrid, though purchased him for £60m, are ready to listen to offers around the £42m mark and this has thrown a number of European clubs on high alert.
The likes of PSG, AS Monaco, and Tottenham Hotspur are all interested in his signature while the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United are tagged as favorites to land their man.
Recent reports have suggested that Jorge Mendes, the agent of the 25-year old has given the player an advice about his future.
It is revealed that Mendes has told Rodriguez that Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United is the best place for his career to blossom but also said that Arsenal and PSG are decent destinations.
None of the three clubs will budge over his asking price leaving the trio with a battle for the star player in January.
Rodriguez will definitely leave Real Madrid –if not in January- in the summer. He will need a top class European club to prove his talent and will hope that he can make a switch to one of the Premier League sides to join the most competitive league in the world.
It will, however, be important for him to stay fit and in shape to make himself available whenever his current team needs him and if he can still produce decent performances, he will have more and more suitors come the start of the transfer window.
Where do you think James Rodriguez will play next season?