Having been linked with James Rodriguez throughout the summer, many United fans thought it was only a matter of time before the Porto forward signed on the dotted line at Old Trafford. However, any potential move has certainly been put into jeopardy over the last few hours, with Rodriguez claiming that he is not looking for a move away and is more than happy to stay with his current club.
Rodriguez has been a revelation in Portugal since joining Porto for a £4m fee several years ago. The 21-year-old has established himself as one of Porto’s biggest attacking threats – not just scoring goals but also contributing to many of his teammates’ efforts. Bearing this in mind, it’s no surprise that United have reportedly turned their attention to him, as Sir Alex Ferguson looks to pluck another wonder kid out of Portuguese football.
However, that could certainly be more difficult than he first imagined. While many people have viewed it as a foregone conclusion that Rodriguez would be open to a move to Old Trafford, the player has since stated otherwise and has said that he is more than happy with his career at the moment. He said, “I want to stay here, Porto are a big club and they are my present. My only thought is playing for Porto and I am also thinking about what is best for the club.”
Rodriguez’s viewpoint puts another obstacle in the deal, with United also having to bypass the small issue of a hefty release clause. After signing a five-year contract last year, Porto made the strategic move of inserting a €45m release clause into the deal. While it’s understood that the Portuguese outfit would be willing to negotiate a lower fee, United reportedly still value the player significantly lower than the asking price they have been given.