Reports are out that Premier League giant Manchester United had already begun talks with La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid with regards to a possible James Rodriguez transfer to Old Trafford in the near future.
The Daily Express cited Spanish media outlet Fichajes as the source of the rumor linking the 24-year-old attacking midfielder to the Red Devils recently. The report mentioned that "Rodriguez has fallen out with manager Rafa Benitez" at the Bernabéu and is open to being transferred.
Rodriguez has only played three games and also scored three times for Los Blancos this season, not for the reason that Benitez does not want to use him but because of a recurring thigh injury. He had recently returned into action in a domestic match for Real, but the team lost to Sevilla, 2-3, at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium on November 8th in his first game back.
The Colombia international is one of the best offensive midfielders in the Spanish top flight last season, recording 17 goals and giving out 18 assists in 46 games for the Bernabéu giants.
Bleacher Report's Christopher Simpson noted that Rodriguez's agent, Jorge Mendes, had already contacted United "to get the ball rolling" on a potential deal, so to speak.
The report also confirmed the Colombian's "slight public tiff" with the Real manager as mentioned by football writer Dermot Corrigan in a social media post.
In 124 minutes of play this season, Rodriguez was able to register two goals and an assist, suggesting that he could be the catalyst Louis van Gaal needs to create more chances up front for the Old Trafford residents as Wayne Rooney has been struggling and new recruit Memphis Depay had failed to live up to his hype so far.
Simpson said that Rodriguez's "acquisition would be a sensational move" for the Red Devils and it "would undoubtedly have a massive impact on United's play in the final third" going into the second half of the season.