Manchester United face Everton this weekend, needing a victory to turn around a run of poor form that has put manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer under pressure.
Vital to getting the three points will be containing James Rodriguez, who has made a lightning quick start to life in the Premier League since joining the Toffees from Real Madrid.
Reunited with former manager Carlo Ancelotti, the Colombian has already racked up three goals and three assists in his six top flight appearances to date. However, could he have been doing this at Old Trafford instead of Merseyside?
Goal has revealed that Real Madrid offered the 29-year-old as part of a deal for Paul Pogba back in 2019. The Red Devils had no interest in the deal, keeping hold of Pogba and leaving Rodriguez available for Everton to snap up a year later.
Solskjaer reportedly wanted to build his team around young, British players, and, with the World Cup Golden Boot winner almost 30, he did not fit the bill.
This is just the most recent of a number of close calls.
According to reporting from The Telegraph, when the forward was a teenager he was recommended to Manchester United by their scout in Argentina, Jose Mayorga. However, former United employee across South America, Marcelo Teixeira, explained that they had doubts.
"Mayorga always included James' name in his reports, but the evaluation from the club was that his playing style didn't suit the Premier League," he said.
In addition, Rodriguez revealed to Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube show, 'The Locker Room', that he turned down a move to Old Trafford in favour of Monaco - just a year before he announced himself to the world at the 2014 World Cup.
"There was some kind of talk there," he said. "My agent (Jorge Mendes) has a great relationship with the club."
He added: "I thought I had to play for a club that wasn't so big. So, I went to France just before the World Cup and my plan was to go to the World Cup, have a great tournament, score goals, reach a good level and then play for a big club."
source https://www.sportbible.com/football/football-news-revealed-why-manchester-united-missed-out-on-james-rodriguez-20201107
0 Comments