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Everton flop James Rodriguez has 'secret clause' at new club to allow specific transfer
Everton allowed James Rodriguez to depart Goodison Park this week as the Colombian signed for Al-Rayyan.
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Everton flop James Rodriguez departed the Merseyside club this week to sign for Al-Rayyan in the Qatar Stars League. The 30-year-old failed to make an impression at Goodison Park, despite showing early promise.
Rodriguez will look to rediscover his golden touch in the Middle East after he was plagued by a series of calf injuries in England.
And, according to Spanish publication AS, the midfielder’s new contract includes a secret get-out clause which will allow him to sign for Paris Saint-Germain should the Parisians show interest.
PSG have been owned by Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, since 2011 through state-run shareholding organisation Qatar Sports Investments.
And the Ligue 1 club will apparently be keeping tabs on Rodriguez while he is at Al-Rayyan, who are managed by France World Cup winner Laurent Blanc.
Rodriguez joined Everton from Real Madrid for £12million in September 2020 to link-up with Carlo Ancelotti, who had managed the player at the Bernabeu Stadium.
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The Colombia international moved to the Premier League with two Champions League trophies and a World Cup golden boot to his name and was welcomed with rapturous fanfare.
He began his life at Everton in sensational form as he racked-up three goals and four assists in his first six games.
But he was soon struck down by injuries and his season eventually fizzled out amid inconsistent form.
Following Ancelotti’s departure from the north west at the end of last season, Rodriguez’s days at the club looked numbered.
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And there was no role for the midfielder to play under Rafa Benitez, who was desperate to get the midfielder’s £200,000-a-week salary off the club’s books.
Rodriguez didn’t even play a game in front of the Everton fans during his time at Goodison Park and only made five appearances after February.
“I’m happy to be here - it’s a new chapter for me,” gushed Rodriguez after arriving in Qatar.
“I hope I can do well. It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to play a lot, and here I’m going to do it with the help of everyone, with the help of the coach. And I hope to do good things.
“It has been very hard for me and this is good. I’ve been thinking about this for a couple of days and I want to thank everyone who has always been here.
“It’s a culture that I like a lot - a football that is growing.
“The most important thing is that I will be able to play - which is what I like to do the most. I just want to be happy doing this.”