Everton: Carlo Ancelotti’s big summer gamble paying off

Colombia star James Rodriguez was the poster boy at the 2014 Brazil World Cup.

James Rodriguez’s springboard to stardom was the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Auditioning at the biggest stage in football, the Colombian sprinkled magic throughout the tournament, earning a move to one of Europe’s most elite: Real Madrid. Then Real Madrid coach, Carlo Ancelotti, had picked the Kohinoor from the bag of diamonds.

Life under Ancelotti was blissful. Playing as the creator in the team that housed the famed attack line of goal hungry monsters Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale, Rodriguez managed to get 17 goals and 18 assists. James was having the time of his life in Madrid until the dismissal of Ancelotti. Where the Colombian once regarded it as the move of his dreams, fast forward five years, he was now pleading to escape the Real Madrid nightmare.

In December 2020, Ancelotti took charge of Everton with the aim to build a team capable of breaking the mid table shackles and challenging for European football. The subsequent summer was seen as Ancelotti’s first window of opportunity to instil a squad with quality and experience, remodelling the squad as per his vision.

James was on his slump at Real Madrid. The 2019-20 season was a disaster for the Colombian. He spent most of his time on the treatment table and when he was fit, you’d find him as a frustrated, distraught figure on the bench. Many across the footballing world put up an argument that injuries and lack of game time had doused the fire in James that once lightened up the Maracana Stadium at the 2014 World Cup.