São Paulo’s bittersweet feeling about James Rodriguez’s great performances

The Colombian midfielder leads the Copa América in assists
by
Martín O'Donnell
2024-06-30 17:03:33

Colombia convincingly defeated Costa Rica 3-0 and will face Brazil in a decisive match to determine the leader of Group D in the Copa América. The team led by Néstor Lorenzo is showing a great level in the tournament, with James Rodríguez standing out.

The midfielder proves game after game that at 32 years old, he remains in top form. In the latest victory, he added another assist and now has three in the continental tournament, leading that statistic alone.

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This is despite not getting playing time at São Paulo, a club looking to sell him during this transfer window. This high level of performance from the former Real Madrid and Bayern Munich player gives São Paulo a bittersweet feeling: the positive aspect is that it increases his value for a potential future transfer, while the negative aspect is that it shows a certain eagerness to offload him without giving him a chance.

James Rodríguez was close to leaving at the beginning of the year, but he stayed, and then-coach Thiago Carpini gave him a chance in the Campeonato Paulista. However, this situation changed with the arrival of Luis Zubeldía to Morumbi: the Argentine does not consider him, and the management has started looking for a new destination for him.

While his future is being decided, the midfielder continues to enjoy contributing to Colombia’s dream of winning the Copa América being held in the United States. “I am happy with the national team; I can help my teammates,” he said after the victory against Costa Rica.