Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane closed the exit door on Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez despite leaving the 2014 World Cup’s top scorer on the bench once more for Real’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday.
Rodriguez has fallen down the pecking order at the Bernabeu since Zidane took charge in January with Madrid’s latest sensation Marco Asensio joining the likes of Isco, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric ahead of him for a place in Real’s congested midfield.
However, Zidane insisted Rodriguez will remain in the Spanish capital beyond the transfer deadline on Wednesday with even the Premier League’s cash-rich clubs unlikely to match the reported 80 million euros ($90 million, o68 million) Real paid for him after the World Cup two years ago.
Rodriguez only came on for the final 21 minutes as Kroos’s fine long-range effort 10 minutes from time salvaged all three points for the hosts despite the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema from Zidane’s starting line-up through injury.
