James Rodríguez Returns to Brazil this Thursday (20), to face the Brazilian team, in Mané Garrincha, in a match valid for the qualifiers of South America. Since leaving Sao Paulo, the midfielder has been through moments of instability in the clubs where he passed.
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Why did James Rodríguez leave Sao Paulo?
The Colombian signed the termination with Sao Paulo in July 2024. At the time, a player and club agreed to terminate the contract in just under a year of James’ arrival at the end of July 2023.
The relationship between the midfielder and the tricolor was not the best for some time. James played in just 22 games with the shirt of Sao Paulo and scored two goals, and gave four assists. The few minutes on the field were one of the conflict points between the athlete, the team and the fans.
On the side of Sao Paulo, the complaint was that the Colombian did not play as well for the club as for the national team itself.
One of the moments that made the most evident wear was in the match of the 2024 Super Cup. James was not related to the game, but was invited to have the cast in Mineirão, where the confrontation would take place. However, he refused and was the only absence of the day.
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Where did James Rodríguez play after leaving Sao Paulo?
Shortly after the troubled of Sao Paulo, James Rodríguez went to Rayo Vallecano from Spain. However, at the Spanish club found the same problem that distanced him from Tricolor Paulista: the few minutes of action.
In an interview with Diario Marca, in December 2024, the midfielder regretted the low draft and blamed the team coach for not entering the field.
– These are decisions that I do not make, these are things I can not control. I take responsibility for my things, but whether I will play or not … I don’t control it, ”he said.
James’s situation was not the same in Colombia. With the selection, the player continues to perform great.
“My mission is to train well, to be physically fit every day, as I am now, and as I have shown in the matches with Colombia.” There, if I wasn’t well physically, I wouldn’t play, ”he said.
After six matches, without goals and assists, James Rodríguez was hired by León, from Mexico, where he was announced in 2025.
What are the clubs of James Rodríguez’s career?
- Envigado (2007-2008)
- Banfield (2008-2010)
- Porto (2010-2013)
- Monaco (2013-2014)
- Real Madrid (2014-2020)
- Bayern Munich (2017-2019)
- Everton (2020-2021)
- Al-Rayyan (2021-2022)
- Olympiacos (2022-2023)
- São Paulo (2023-2024)
- Rayo Vallecano (2024-2025)
- León (2025-Atual)
James Rodríguez numbers in the career
| Club | Games | Goals | Assists |
| Envigado | 30 | 9 | – |
| Banfield | 50 | 10 | – |
| Porto | 108 | 32 | 36 |
| Monaco | 38 | 10 | 13 |
| Real Madrid | 125 | 37 | 39 |
| Bayern de Munich | 67 | 15 | 19 |
| Everton | 26 | 6 | 8 |
| Al-Rayyan | 16 | 5 | 6 |
| Olympiacos | 23 | 5 | 6 |
| São Paulo | 22 | 2 | 4 |
| Ray Vallecano | 7 | – | 1 |
| León | 11 | 2 | 5 |
James Rodríguez in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers
- Games: 12
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 4
