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.
Carlo Ancelotti and James Rodriguez share a very cordial relationship.
No one doubted whether Rodriguez still possessed quality and imagination, he surely did. The question was whether someone can help him reignite the flame. In times of adversity, we often tend to go to people we trust, people with whom we feel at home.
To Ancelotti, Rodriguez is like an adopted son and he couldn’t see him suffer. Rodriguez couldn’t ever say no to Ancelotti, a fatherly figure in his life. The Colombian arrived at Goodison Park in the summer of 2020, with a glimmer of hope of reviving himself on the world stage.
Was this a big risk for Everton? From a financial point of view, it was not as it has been revealed that he practically arrived on a free transfer. But the gamble was on whether James will be able to even show a little bit of glimpse of his own self when he was at his peak. Coming from a horrendous previous season, brought down by injuries and thrown into the animal Premier League, it was a risky bet.
Is he too fragile for the ever physical English Top Flight? Can he be the focal point of Everton’s creative room, whose fans were already dreaming of European football? Can he put aside his niggling issues and get a consistent and extended run of games or he’ll just be another unproductive side cast?
James Rodriguez dazzled and looked inspiring in the FA Cup game against Sheffield Wednesday.
The first game against Tottenham Hotspur answered all of these questions to an extent. James was elegant, showcased multidimensional vision and provided the touch of class. Scrumptious passing, effortless movement and nimble footwork as always, the Colombian’s performance spoke volumes of the creative genius he is.
Within a couple of months of his arrival, the old disturbed Rodriguez of Real Madrid had become a blurred memory. It is true that he still isn’t immune to injuries and the recent spell on the sidelines proves that but his revival has been terrific.
Yesterday’s FA Cup game was a routine victory but it acted as a testament that how monumental is the Colombian in the Everton roster. The 29 year old registered two assists but the highlight was that he created 10 chances and ran the show. Rodriguez has transformed Everton to such an extent that Everton’s ambitions of breaking into top six may turn into reality soon.
James is an alchemist with the art to turn anything into gold but it was Ancelotti the Paulo Coelho of this story who brought the alchemist to life. The Toffees surely took a risk with James Rodriguez transfer but this bet is yielding more than favourable returns.