Real Madrid signs James Rodriguez for €80m

By The Rainbow
Real Madrid signs James Rodriguez for €80m
Real Madrid signs James Rodriguez for €80m

Real Madrid snapped up Colombian midfielder James Rodriguez , the World Cup's hottest property, in a six-year deal expected to cost the Champions League winners €80m.

The deal underlines the huge inflation taking place in European football, as the biggest clubs seek to capitalise on the growth in their income from TV and commercial rights deals to maintain their places at the top table.

It is the third €50m-plus deal of the summer, following Luis Suárez's move from Liverpool to Barcelona for about £75m and David Luiz switching from Chelsea to Paris Saint-Germain for £50m.

Mr Rodriguez, who leaves Monaco after just one season, lit up Brazil 2014 with several captivating performances, the highlight of which was his goal against Uruguay, a chest-down and volley that was widely regarded as the best of the tournament.

He won the golden boot at the World Cup, awarded to the tournament's top scorer, finishing with six goals. He will be presented to fans of Los Blancos on Tuesday.

The La Liga giants, famed for their galacticos policy, which for many years has seen a procession of big names wear the club's white shirt, will next season be able to include a line-up of three of the four most expensive signings in football transfer history.

The 23 year-old Colombian will take the field alongside Gareth Bale , bought last summer from Tottenham Hotspur for a world record €100m, and Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo, purchased five years ago from Manchester United for €80m.

The number of deals is creating a domino effect in European football, as the big-money deals trigger medium-sized transfers. Real Madrid last week signed World Cup winner Toni Kroos from Bayern Munich, and is likely to sell a number of squad players to ensure it keeps within Uefa's financial fair play rules.

Last summer, Real Madrid offloaded Mesut Ozil to Arsenal for £42.5m to help fund the purchase of Mr Bale.

ft.com