James Rodriguez Move to Napoli Imminent After Real Madrid Agree Loan and Permanent Transfer Fees
Napoli are close to completing the €10m loan signing of Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez from Real Madrid, with the obligation to buy the playmaker for €40m at the end of the 2019/20 season.
The fee that Napoli would have to pay to sign Rodriguez permanently represents a significant loss for Madrid, who bought the player for £63m back in 2014 following his World Cup exploits.
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According to Gazzetta dello Sport via Calciomercato, the deal has been concluded and will be officially finalised after the Copa America, with Rodriguez currently on international duty with Colombia.
Zinedine Zidane and Real have already brought in Eden Hazard, Rodrygo and Luka Jovic this summer to bolster their attacking options, signalling an end to Rodriguez's time in the Spanish capital.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis has also commented on the transfer, revealing he doesn't believe I Partenopei need Rodriguez but adding that Carlo Ancelotti has his backing over signings.
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He said: "I've always said that we need to buy two full backs and a striker. James Rodriguez is wanted by Ancelotti, I am not sure we need him but it's the desire of our manager and it's fair to give him responsibility.
"James is a very good player and that can't be put into question. If Ancelotti wants him I am sure he will be useful. Even if he is very expensive I said 'go head'. If we won't sign him I'll speak with Raiola for Lozano because we can't buy them both."
Having finished second to Juventus for two successive seasons, Ancelotti will be hoping that Rodriguez can help his side mount a challenge to end Juventus' dominance of Serie A. Ancelotti briefly managed Rodriguez at Bayern, prior to his sacking in September 2017.
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The 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner has been on loan at Bayern Munich for the past two seasons, scoring on 14 occasions and providing 15 assists in the Bundesliga. During his time at the club, Rodriguez won two Bundesliga titles and the DFB-Pokal, helping Bayern to their 12th domestic double last season.
