Everton star shuts down exit talk as his ‘cycle’ with Real is ‘closed’
Everton midfielder James Rodriguez does not think Carlo Ancelotti will take him back to Real Madrid as he expects to stay at Everton.
The former Bayern Munich and Monaco star spent six years at Madrid between 2014 and 2020.
Rodriguez departed last summer as he joined Everton on a free transfer. He signed a two-year deal with The Toffees.
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It was Ancelotti who brought Rodriguez to the Premier League. He got six goals and four assists from his 23 outings in the top flight in 2020/21.
The Italian boss has since left Everton to take over at Real Madrid. He previously managed them between 2013 and 2015 and he won the Champions League with them.
Speaking during an Instagram Live (as cited by MSN Deportes), Rodriguez said that he would be happy to stay at Everton:
“I don’t know, I think not.
“If I stay another year [at Everton] that’s fine. I don’t think Ancelotti is going to take me. The cycle for me with Real Madrid is closed.”
Last week, Paul Merson suggested that Ancelotti had “lost interest” at Everton:
“Carlo Ancelotti quitting Everton did not surprise me one bit,” Merson said. “He looked like he’d lost interest.
“And he’s not stupid. He would have seen the last few weeks that they are miles away.
“Ancelotti wants to manage a top four club. He would have seen enough to realise that the top four is impossible for Everton right now.
“You can’t have a home record like that and expect to do anything. He takes some blame though. It’s his job to get a tune out of those players. But they need pace. They need two quick wingers.”
Merson also insisted that former Wolves boss Nuno Espirito Santo should be the man to replace Ancelotti at Everton.
He added: “Where do they go now? David Moyes has just built a great team at West Ham.
“If he went back to Everton he’d have to start from scratch again. Surely you see the job out at West Ham don’t you? They’ve just had an unbelievable season.
“Everton should go for Nuno Espirito Santo. He’s got Premier League experience and I’ve always thought he could manage a big club.”
