James Rodriguez, the Colombian star currently playing for Rayo Vallecano, is preparing to face his former club, Real Madrid, this weekend.
Reflecting on his time at the Spanish giants in an interview with MARCA, the midfielder shared his thoughts on his tenure at Madrid and what could have been.
Rodriguez spoke fondly of his days at the Bernabeu, expressing that he would have liked to stay longer with the club. He admitted that while he was happy at Madrid, he felt he could have added a few more years to his stay.
Playing against Real Madrid
James Rodriguez has played against Real Madrid. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Bongarts/Getty Images)
His time at the club allowed him to showcase his abilities on one of the biggest stages in world football, and the upcoming match against his old side will be particularly special for him.
“It’s always nice to play against Real Madrid. A club where I was happy and I was able to show everything I could do. That duel is always special,” he began saying.
Rodriguez previously faced Madrid during his stint at Bayern Munich in the Champions League, and that match remains a memorable one.
“I already had the opportunity to play against them with Bayern in the Champions League and it was a special game.”
Leaving Real Madrid
James Rodriguez will face Real Madrid this weekend. (Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images)
When asked if he missed anything after leaving Madrid, Rodriguez acknowledged that he might have had a chance to extend his time there.
“Maybe I could have stayed a year or two more and my numbers could have been a little higher.”
He suggested that if circumstances had been different, he could have spent two or three more years at the club, potentially improving his numbers and contributions.
“But at that time, due to the circumstances, they didn’t let me stay and that happened. But I think I could have stayed two or three more years there,” he said.
Players close to James Rodriguez
Rodriguez also reflected on his relationships with some of his former teammates. He mentioned his strong bond with players like Marcelo, Pepe, Keylor Navas, and Sergio Ramos, highlighting that he got along well with everyone in the dressing room.
He also shared that he had a good relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo during their time together.
“Many. Marcelo, Pepe, Keylor, Sergio Ramos. I get along well with everyone. I also had a very good relationship with Cristiano when we played together.”
Of the current Madrid squad, Rodriguez keeps in touch with Lucas Vazquez, and the two have exchanged messages on occasion.
“From the current squad, we have exchanged messages with Lucas Vazquez at times.”
Thoughts on Luka Modric
James Rodriguez has nothing but admiration for Luka Modric. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
One of the key players Rodriguez admired during his time at Madrid was Luka Modric, who now wears the number 10 jersey.
Rodriguez praised Modric as a brilliant player who only seems to get better with age. He mentioned that when they played together, Modric was already exceptional, but his skills have only improved since then.
“He is a crack, a genius. I had the opportunity to play with him and over the years he plays better every day. The older he gets, the better the quality. When I played with him, he was already very, very good. And now he’s a genius.”
Carlo Ancelotti’s mention
James Rodriguez has played under Ancelotti in three different teams. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
Reflecting on his time under Carlo Ancelotti, Rodriguez had high praise for the Italian manager.
He spoke about Ancelotti’s ability to bring out the best in his players, stating that if you were given the opportunity to play, it was because you were among the best.
“If he made you play, it’s because you were top. He only puts the good ones. He is not going to put people who he thinks are not good.”
Rodriguez also appreciated Ancelotti’s personal approach with his players, describing him as a father figure in the dressing room. His management skills and the way he treated his players helped extract 100% from them, according to Rodriguez.
“In the treatment, one on one in the dressing room, he treats you like father to son. He has great dressing room management. He manages his players very well, treats them well and gets 100% out of them,” he added.
As he prepares to face Madrid again, Rodriguez remains grateful for his time at the club but also hopeful for the future.