Manchester United are one of the ‘main options’ for James Rodríguez this summer, with a move away from Real Madrid looking extremely likely.
The Colombian has been linked with a departure this summer, having found himself increasingly on the periphery under Zinedine Zidane this season.
The French boss has always insisted he counts on everyone in his squad, but that has not been the case, and Rodríguez has ‘grown tired’ of his manager’s ‘empty words’.
There are rumours in Spain that he is refusing to play to ensure he doesn’t get injured, as he wants to secure a transfer, with several options currently on the table.
A move to Old Trafford would come with a massive caveat, though.
It’s explained that if United were to ‘approach the transfer’, they would need to do so ‘at a reduced rate’ so they could ‘respect his salary’.
Rodríguez currently earns €7.75m a year at Madrid, and the sentiment seems to be that he doesn’t want to reduce his current pay packet.
The good news for Manchester United is that they may be able to talk Madrid into lowering their demands as a result of Rodríguez’s contract situation.
He is in his final year at the Bernabeu, so Madrid need to sell this summer if they are to make any money.
If not, they will be forced to keep hold of him and continue to pay his huge wages, a problem if they want to spend themselves.
Rodríguez, for his part, would like a move to Atlético Madrid so that he can prove a point to Zidane but knows that Madrid will not sell to a rival and strengthen them.
