James Rodriguez & Man Utd: Why Mourinho wants this deal

What's Jose Mourinho doin'? James
Rodriguez ? Where's he going to fit? Henrikh
Mkhitaryan , Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard... even Antoine
Griezmann . It's overkill, right?
No. This is archetypal Mou. After muddling through this
season, trying to force square pegs into round holes,
James is another piece in the ideal Mourinho jigsaw -
and his arrival from Real Madrid will have no bearing on
negotiations with Atletico Madrid for Griezmann. The
United manager, after a year of assessment, is now
determined to bring together players capable of fitting
into his ideal system.
A centre-forward and three energetic, nimble No10s
working around him. It's always been Mourinho's MO.
And he's not about to change now.
And in terms of attackers, Mourinho will need a
centre-forward. It was to be Zlatan Ibrahimovic , but
as he confirmed in the aftermath of the Swede's knee
setback, "this has changed everything". Those reports
of a £200 million-plus summer spend aren't the stuff
of speculation. The manager's focus this transfer
window will be getting his attacking options in place.
James should be the first through the door. In
Colombia, they say we can expect an announcement
before Monday. Real want to delay any confirmation
until after the Champions League final, but with the
relationship between player and club at such a low ebb,
James couldn't care less. An agreement with United,
courtesy of super agent Jorge Mendes, has been in
place for weeks. And the midfielder wants an end to
the speculation.
London has also been floated as a possible option for
the Colombian - though that's coming from Fleet
Street. Even the family angle no longer carries weight,
with brother-in-law David Ospina about to jump ship
from Arsenal for Turkey.
In Bogota, they're convinced James is joining
Mourinho's United. Indeed, Tribalfootball.com has
learned from a government source, no less, that the
expectation will be he's going to Old Trafford.
" Sevilla was his last game (for Real Madrid )," stated
the source, "I can't confirm it, but it does look like his
next home will be Manchester."
This has been a long break up. You could say it's been
two years in the making. The last real flashpoint came
in Japan when James, having been snubbed - again - by
coach Zinedine Zidane for Club World Cup selection,
went off script, declaring to any reporter within
earshot of the mixed zone: "I want to play more, there
are offers and I have seven days to think about it ..."
Upon their return to Madrid, Zidane summoned James to
his office. Grievances were aired. Assurances given.
And James decided against demanding a January
transfer. But six months on - for James - Zidane's
assuring words were empty gestures. He's fed up.
Frustrated. He even feels betrayed.
But Real Madrid and James Rodriguez has never been a
good fit. At least, not since Real president Florentino
Perez showed Carlo Ancelotti the door two years ago.
It was under the now Bayern Munich coach James
played his best football in a Merengues shirt. Indeed,
some of the best stuff of his career. Ancelotti found
room for the Colombian and played to his strengths.
But with his sacking, so went James' status. Rafa
Benitez arrived and immediately overhauled the midfield
to include the recalled Casemiro, at the expense of
James, in a more workmanlike setup. And even when he
was dumped, James' situation showed no signs of
improving under Zidane. From 44 starts under
Ancelotti, James' record has diminished to barely 16
this season with Zidane. The Frenchman, like Benitez
before him, simply doesn't rate him.
Which is a frustration for Florentino, who has been the
Colombia captain's biggest ally inside the club. The
creator of the Galacticos, Florentino knows what a
successful James could do for Real's profile across the
Americas - and to their bank balance. He spent €80
million ferrying James away from AS Monaco convinced
he was signing the next great No10. But after his
Ancelotti intervention, the deal has looked disastrous.
And there's no shortage of directors and confidants
telling Florentino where it's all gone wrong. The
selection dilemma is one thing, but James hasn't helped
himself with his behaviour off the pitch. For many
stalwarts inside the boardroom, his sale can't come
soon enough.
Leading local police in a high speed chase all the way to
the Valdebebas training ground was embarrassing, but
Florentino waved away the protests. Defying club
doctors and skipping shoulder surgery to party with
friends and family was insulting, but the president was
steadfast. But to openly declare he wanted to leave
while on tour in Japan... well that was the final
straw. For Florentino, no-one leaves Real Madrid .
Despite that meeting with Zidane, the die was cast.
The airbrushing was underway. Unlike last season,
there was no James for the Fly Emirates promotion.
Those playing guarantees from Zidane soon proved the
stuff of fantasy. The Colombian knew there was no
way back.
And having a front row seat to all this was Mourinho.
Courtesy of Mendes, the United manager knows every
frustration, every slight, that James has felt over the
last six months. With Mendes desperate to work his way
ahead of Mino Raiola and back into United's plans,
Mourinho basically has first refusal.
Headstrong? Yes. Outspoken? Oh yeah. But Mourinho
knows all this. Via Mendes, he'll know James better
than the player knows himself. And for all the
mischief, the manager also knows United will be getting
a character he can work with.
A national team captain. A genuine, world class talent.
And also someone with a grudge, with a determination
to prove his critics wrong. James Rodriguez is
definitely one for the Mourinho system.

All credits: tribalfootball.com