James Rodriguez had a ‘clear mentality’ when he left this summer, knowing he wouldn’t feature under Rafa Benitez.
Rodriguez was linked with a move away from Goodison Park all summer after Carlo Ancelotti had departed for Real Madrid.
He eventually secured a move to Qatari side Al-Rayyan, bringing an end to a tumultuous solo year with the Toffees.
The Colombian had arrived at Everton to much fanfare following a free transfer from Real Madrid and started like a house on fire on Merseyside with a series of impressive performances.
That changed as the winter rolled in, though, with a series of niggling injuries and lack of fitness, meaning he would make just 26 appearances in total for the Blues.
By the time Rafa Benitez was confirmed as manager, Everton were determined to get rid, and Rodriguez’s fellow Colombian Jackson Martinez says the feeling was mutual.
“He is a star. A player who will go down in history, although he is already there because he has achieved so much,” Infobae report him saying.
“The Colombian people have to be happy to see that we have the best goalscorer in a World Cup.
“After hearing about Qatar, I asked myself, and I think he has a clear mentality. He’s very competitive, and he knew, like everyone else, that he wasn’t going to play for Everton.
“He’s gone to a place where there’s going to be a World Cup and where he’s going to keep playing. He’s going to have the opportunity to keep being called up to the national team.”
