The mystery surrounding James Rodríguez’s future was revealed with an unexpected ending. The latest chapter of this saga began when São Paulo’s coach, Thiago Carpini, confirmed that the Colombian would be leaving, sparking all kinds of speculation about his next destination.
The midfielder did not travel with the squad that won the Supercopa de Brasil (now called Supercopa Rei in homage to Pelé) on February 4 in Belo Horizonte after defeating Palmeiras on penalties, a clear sign that his time with the club had already ended prematurely. His signing was announced just over six months ago, during which various physical problems prevented him from shining.
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Among all the speculations, the strongest one linked him to Besiktas in Turkey. However, the transfer window in Turkish football ended, and there was no official announcement about the arrival of the former left midfielder of Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.
Days passed, and it was the player himself, 32 years old, who gave the first hint about the outcome of this story. “Something good is coming,” he wrote on his social media, in a post where he was seen training with São Paulo’s gear.
The information that started to circulate now indicated that the Colombian would stay at the club, facing a busy schedule that includes a return to the Copa Libertadores as a highlight. This was later confirmed by a senior executive, who provided more details about the decision.
“He apologized, he wants to play for São Paulo. Since he never missed training sessions, always fulfilled his obligations, trained well, at 100%, without having problems with anyone (…) we understood the apology,” said technical coordinator Muricy Ramalho in an interview broadcast on social media.
“We can’t overlook such a great player. He spoke with the coach, apologized, and we understood,” added the legendary former coach. Brazilian media also report that his departure did not materialize due to not reaching a financial agreement to terminate his contract, which is valid until June 30, 2025.
