JAMES RODRIGUEZ has revealed why he snubbed Manchester United in 2013.
The Colombian, who shot to superstardom after a brilliant showing at the 2014 World Cup, was ready to leave Porto after an impressive couple of years.
James Rodriguez has revealed why he snubbed a move to Man Utd in 2013Credit: PA:Press Association
The playmaker was hotly linked with a move to Old Trafford but ultimately chose Ligue 1 Monaco.
Speaking about snubbing Man Utd, James told Rio Ferdinand’s ‘The Locker Room’: “I think there was some kind of talk there.
“My [agent] has a great relationship with the club, and his name is Jorge Mendes.
“Well, we always dream of getting in a big club. Since I was a child I always admired Manchester.
“I always saw those teams with Rio, with [Ryan] Giggs and [Paul] Scholes, there were a lot of prodigious players, and I wanted to get there in that year, but it didn’t happen.
“I thought that I had to play for a club that wasn’t so big. From there I went to France, just before the World Cup.
“My plan was to go to the World Cup, have great participation there, score goals, reach a good level and from there play for a big club. Then the Real Madrid thing happened.”
His big-money move to the Spanish capital has proved mixed, despite a La Liga title and two Champions League wins.
James has often found himself on the bench and has only broken double figures once, in his debut season.
He spent two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich, but the unimpressed German club decided not to take up his option to buy.
This season, Rodriguez has been back at the Bernabeu, but has played only 14 games in all competitions, starting just eight of them.
He revealed he had a very good offer last summer – Atletico Madrid were and continue to be linked – but did not move because of things out of his control.
“I stayed this year because… Let me tell you what happened,” he added.
“Last summer I got a really good offer from a club, I don’t want to say the name, but I could go there because I knew that I wouldn’t play much here. I knew it.
“So I got this offer from this club and I haven’t been allowed to leave due to several issues.
“So basically I’m here this year because of the circumstances, not because I wanted to be, because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to play much.
“But here I’m learning every day and hopefully in the future I will be able to play more. I know that I have the talent and I believe in my daily work.”
Everton, Newcastle and David Beckham’s Inter Miami have also been linked with a move.
Man United, Arsenal and Chelsea on alert as Real Madrid put Bale, Modrić and James up for sale to boost transfer funds
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
