The Latest on James Rodríguez | OneFootball

Colombia’s golden boy, James Rodríguez, was once at the very top of the global game.

Formerly of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the playmaker has seen his career take some unexpected twists and turns in recent years, but he was last seen over in Mexico, representing Club León.

Twelve months and 14 goal contributions later, Rodríguez is back on the market and desperately looking for a new employer to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He expects to not only start but also captain his Colombia for what is likely to be the last time.

Chances of staying in Mexico?

News broke of Rodríguez’s departure from León in November, following the club’s failure to reach the Liga MX Apertura playoffs, and immediately came rumors of a potential move within Mexico.

Club América, Cruz Azul, Tigres, Monterrey and Pumas were among the targets most connected with the magician, but those stories have started to fade.

Los Universitarios of Pumas were most favored to sign the Colombian, with many expecting him to reunite with former Real Madrid teammate Keylor Navas. However, the club signed Juninho, Cesár Garza, Jordan Carillo and Robert Morales, all in the last month, leading many to suspect their prospects of moving for the Colombian superstar have diminished.

Clubs seem to be put off by his astronomical wage demands, which reportedly set León back $5 million over the span of 12 months. Then there’s his age. At 34, Rodríguez is coming towards the twilight years of his career. Pumas’ recent activity in the market suggests that they are looking for young, exciting prospects.

A similar story has followed with a potential move to other Liga MX sides. The Clausura has started, and chances of a deal seem to fade with each day that passes.

One certainty is that if he does switch Liga MX alliances, it will cause shock waves, much like his deal with León a year ago.

A move elsewhere?

As a move within Mexico starts to dwindle, reports indicate that a deal outside of the country could be on the horizon. Most noticeably, one potential deal that has started to pick up traction is the idea of him returning to his home country, with Millionarios taking an interest in the national hero.

Residing in the capital, Bogota, Millionarios are the second-most decorated club in Colombia, only behind Atlético Nacional.

Despite their history as one of Colombia’s best-ever teams, it’s been over two years, five tournaments since they were seated at the top, and they may be able to convince the attacking midfielder of a return to the country after 17 years away.