Chelsea FC Target James Rodriguez Rules Out Move To Premier League

After four scintillating performances, James Rodriguez is now one of the transfer market’s hottest prospects.  When football decides to take centre stage across the globe for what seems like far too short a period every four years, one looks towards the big names to provide thrilling entertainment to the impatient masses. However, it is often surprise packages that win over plaudits and neutral fans’ hearts. Such is the beauty of the World Cup.

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The FIFA 2014 World Cup in Brazil is no exception. The initial excitement reserved for players such as Wayne Rooney, Mario Balotelli, Cristiano Ronaldo and the like have made way for lesser known names who’ve truly made the World Cup theirs. None quite so impressively, perhaps, as James Rodriguez, who’s attacking flair and clinical finishing have seen him on the score sheet in all four games so far. In Colombia’s game against Uruguay, James Rodriguez managed to demonstrate both his individual talent with a chest controlled 25-yard volley worthy of winning any goal of the tournament competition, and his strong positional play with a poacher’s goal to finish off a sumptuous team move. In the space of four games his £38.5 million price tag, which might have seemed to some like an exaggerated sum of money for Monaco to splash out on him a year ago, now seems entirely justified given his young age.

As is to be expected, James Rodriguez’s consistently strong performances at the ‘Mecca of football’ have sparked numerous transfer rumours from teams across Europe’s biggest leagues. How cruel it seems, after such an astounding exhibition, to already be denied the right even to imagine him gracing the Premier League with his talent.

“The Premier League is maybe a bit physical at this stage.”

It is sometimes all too easy to live by the Premier League’s reputation as “the best league in the world”, and assume it is most players’ ambition to play in England. As entertaining and competitive as it is, its trademark physicality can act as somewhat of a deterrent to some. One need only look at the case of Arjen Robben, one of football’s most promising talents at the time of his spell in royal blue, who’s move away from the physicality of the Premier League enabled him eventually to flourish into one of football’s best wingers. James Rodriguez seems to be looking to avoid any setbacks at this young age and, according to reports from The Guardian, has expressed his ambition to play in Spain’s La Liga.

Jun 12, 2014; Sao Paulo, BRAZIL; Brazil midfielder Oscar celebrates after scoring a goal in the second half against Croatia in the opening game of the 2014 World Cup at Arena Corinthians. Brazil defeated Croatia 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

It is naturally a disappointment to know for certain that any interest on behalf of Chelsea FC will now certainly be in vain. However, we are hardly in a position to complain. Oscar, who is also just 22, has shown how instrumental he can be in a playmaking role, and upon finding some consistency will be one of the best around. Add to that the purchase of versatile attacking midfielder Cesc Fabregas and it becomes clear that Chelsea FC have transfer priorities elsewhere on the pitch. 

If anything, I think we must take solace in the fact that James Rodriguez’s disinterest in the Premier League denies the use of his attacking threat from our league rivals, who are in much greater need of such a player.

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