Amidst growing interest from Manchester United, manager Zinedine Zidane claimed that James Rodriguez remained an a importantai??i?? player at Real Madrid.
The Colombian shared a fractious relationship with Rafael Benitez as reports emerging from England claimed that Louis van Gaal was interested in acquiring his services in the January transfer window.
Manchester United are rumoured . to be interesting in signing James Rodriguez from Real Madrid. Despite providing the goods on the pitch, the former Monaco star shared a troubled relationship with Benitez as he made his way in and out of the starting eleven.
James and Isco are phenomenal players
However, the Colombian international is expected to retain his place in the first team with Zinedine Zidane replacing Benitez in the dug-out. As reported by Managing Madrid, the Frenchman underlined Rodriguezai??i??s importance in the squad.
a All the players will be important. James and Isco are phenomenal players and therefore they will be important as well,a he said.
Rodriguezai??i??s transfer to Manchester United highly unlikely
While Zidane outlined his ambitions as the new Real Madrid manager, the former French international reassured the likes of James Rodriguez and Isco of their importance in the dressing room. Though Zidane insisted that his playing style at Real Madrid would revolve around Benzema, Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo (BBC), Rodriguez stands to benefit from Benitezai??i??s dismissal.
Also Read, Analysis: Unravelling The Politics Behind Benitezai??i??s Dismissal At Real Madrid
At the same time, it is highly unlikely that Real Madrid would willingly part ways with their World Cup hero. Brought in to replace Angel Di Maria in 2014, Zinedine Zidane would loathe to lose a player of his calibre in his first month in charge of the club.