By Mark Weasley
The pair of Alvaro Morata and James Rodriguez are both expected to leave Real Madrid this summer, but an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu has become complicated by Florentino Perez. The Real Madrid president is averse to both players leaving to the same club, with Manchester United rumoured to be close to a move for Morata, and also submitting a bid for James.
According to Don Balon, United have made a £35m bid for the 25-year-old Colombian playmaker, but Real want nothing else than £50m, which would mean they will recoup a major chunk of their £65m transfer fee they paid to sign him from Monaco in 2014.
Morata is reportedly nearing a switch to Old Trafford, and wants James to play alongside him next season, but Daily Express reports that Perez is reluctant to sell both players to United given that both clubs clash in the UEFA Super Cup in August. If Manchester United were to field both players against their former clubs and win, it won’t augur well for Madrid, a situation Perez is unwilling to comprehend.
Don Balon also reports that James has agreed personal terms with the 20-time English champions. The rocky relationship between United manager, Mourinho and Real Madrid, still stemming from his time as manager of Los Blancos from 2010-2013 means that the European champions are unwilling to strengthen a major continental rival with two exceptional players.
Morata and James both struggled for game time last season, and with the 2018 World Cup coming up next year, it is imperative they move to clubs that will guarantee them regular playing time.