Transfer Centre

Guillem Balague: 'Zinedine Zidane wants to sell James Rodriguez'

By Matt Law, Football Editor | 26 August 2016

Respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague claims that Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane wants to sell James Rodriguez in the final week of the transfer window.

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane wants James Rodriguez 'out the door' in the final week of the transfer window, according to respected Spanish journalist Guillem Balague.

James has been strongly linked with a move away from the Bernabeu this summer, but it had been thought that all parties had agreed on a stay, despite interest from the Premier League and Italian champions Juventus.

The Colombian international was left out of Zidane's starting XI against Real Sociedad last weekend despite the absence of a number of attackers, however, and Balague has said that the Frenchman wants to sell the attacking midfielder.

"Chelsea have not made a bid. I don't believe that they are willing to pay €70m (£60m) as it has been published in the Spanish media," Balague told Sky Sports News.

"But Real Madrid have opened the door to him should he want to leave - he is not expected to start at the weekend in La Liga. Zinedine Zidane wants him out but the player told Real he wants to stay. He is being pushed out but will not be sold on the cheap."

James, 25, scored eight times in 32 appearances for Real Madrid last season and has netted 25 goals in total since making the move from AS Monaco in the summer of 2014.