Real Madrid may reverse course on James Rodriguez

Real Madrid could bring James Rodriguez back.

James Rodriguez arrived at Real Madrid with sky-high expectations, but didn’t exactly leave covered in glory. The Colombian star could be in line for a surprise return to the Bernabeu, but it would take one seismic event to facilitate such a move.

According to reports in Spain, there is one way that James can return to Real Madrid before his scheduled two-year loan spell at Bayern has concluded. The only thing that needs to happen to activate that clause is the removal of Zinedine Zidane as the club’s manager.

In fairness, that’s quite an unlikely occurrence. We are talking about a manager who led his club to a league and Champions League title last season. Despite the club’s relatively slow start to this campaign there’s absolutely no reason to think Zidane is on the hot seat. Florentino Perez certainly isn’t going to jettison his successful manager to bring back a midfielder who struggled mightily during his time with the club.

The only interesting aspect of this news from my perspective is just how clear it makes it that Zidane doesn’t rate Rodriguez in the slightest. It’s very possible that many at Real Madrid still believed in James’ talent before he left the club. That’s the only logical explanation for the insertion of such a clause in his loan deal.

This news may also portend a potential rift between Perez and Zidane. There have been murmurs of conflict between the two giant personalities off and on throughout their tenure together. I can only imagine Zidane’s negative reaction upon hearing that a loan contract includes a specific provision in the event of his dismissal. It’s not the sort of thing that engenders good faith between a manager and his boss.

James Rodriguez’s Real Madrid career is likely over, but it’s interesting to know that a return to the club isn’t completely impossible. Zinedine Zidane will certainly hope it never comes to fruition though. The returning of the skilled Colombian could only coincide with the departure of the French legend.