The chief editor of German football publication Real Total, Nils Kern, has recently discussed Everton’s impending signing of Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez.
Recently, it has widely been reported that the Toffees are set to acquire the services of the Colombian midfielder on a permanent transfer from Los Blancos (per BBC).
It has been stated that the player was due to have his medical last Thursday and the deal is expected to be ‘worth more than £20m‘.
The supposed deal will see the 29-year-old middleman leave the Santiago Bernabeu for around £47.5m less than what he arrived for after he signed for the Spanish giants for £67.5m in 2014 (per Transfermarkt).
So, in a recent episode of the All Together Now podcast, Kern made an appearance and discussed what would have been a deciding factor in Rodriguez’s decision to move.
He said: “Carlo Ancelotti is famous for threatening his players very softly, for making them feel good or making them feel like they are the best players in the world.
“[Zinedine] Zidane’s someone who [when he] sees someone isn’t training perfectly, he prefers other players like Lucas Vazquez, who, of course, isn’t the better player technically like James Rodriguez, but Lucas Vazquez always gives 100% in training and in the games.
“James was not always at 100%, so he felt better with Ancelotti who, nevertheless, lets him play no matter how James trained or how he wasn’t training.
“So, that’s maybe the big thing about Ancelotti – that he’s more a friend of him. That he’s more just a nice guy who likes James’ football too, and who just gives him the minutes James needs.”
TIF Thoughts…
As can be seen in what the editor of the Real Madrid-orientated publication had to say, he clearly believes that Rodriguez’s working relationship with Ancelotti could have been a deciding factor in his impending move.
Do you think Carlo Ancelotti can get the best out of James Rodriguez again?
No, he's past his best
Yes, I believe he can
Evidently, Ancelotti is a fan of Rodriguez, with the Italian manager having twice signed the Colombian previously, first during his time as Real Madrid manager and second while with Bayern Munich (via Transfermarkt).
In fact, working under Ancelotti during the 2014/15 season with Los Blancos was the best club season of Rodriguez’s career as he earned a stellar 7.85/10 average rating (per WhoScored).
Hopefully, for Everton fans, Ancelotti can get the best out of the 29-year-old middleman once more – this time at Goodison Park.