Munich: Bayern Munich have signed midfielder James Rodriguez from Real Madrid on a two-year loan deal with an option to buy the player, the German champions said on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old Colombia international made 22 La Liga appearances for Real last season, scoring eight goals, and featured six times in the UEFA Champions League.
“We are very happy to have completed this transfer,” Bayern Executive Board Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement. “Signing James Rodriguez was the big wish of our coach Carlo (Ancelotti) after they worked successfully together in Madrid.”
Rodriguez moved to Real Madrid from Monaco for a reported €60 million (Dh251 million or $68.4 million) in 2014 after winning the Golden Boot as the leading scorer at the Fifa World Cup. He was also named in the team of the tournament as Colombia reached the quarter-finals.
His ability to score spectacular goals made him an ideal addition to Real’s “Galacticos” project, but he struggled to nail down a regular starting place at the Bernabeu.
Real confirmed that Bayern could make the move permanent at the end of the loan period.
“Real Madrid and Bayern Munich have agreed to the transfer of player James Rodriguez for the next two seasons, pending a medical examination,” the Spanish club said on its website.
“Bayern Munich reserves the right to purchase the player at the end of the transfer period.” Rodriguez will join up with Bayern’s squad immediately and is expected to travel with the team for their 12-day pre-season tour in China and Singapore.
The Colombian is the German club’s sixth signing of the close season, following the arrivals of wingers Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman, midfielders Corentin Tolisso and Sebastian Rudy, and centre back Niklas Suele.
Real Madrid’s new French left-back Theo Hernandez meanwhile said he joined the Spanish champions from cross-city rivals Atletico Madrid because he wants to learn from the “world’s best players”.
“I am very happy to be here, the best club in the world, and I have come here to learn from the best players in the world,” the 19-year-old said at his official presentation at Real’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
“I am going to follow their footsteps and try to improve each day,” he added later at his first press conference as a Real player.
Hernandez, who impressed while on loan at Basque side Alaves last season, signed with Real for the next six seasons for a reported fee of €30 million ($34 million).
He rejected numerous offers of a new deal from Atletico, where he was under contract until 2021, and other European clubs, reiterating his desire to play for Real Madrid.
Liverpool and Real’s arch rivals Barcelona were both reportedly chasing the player.
“You are a Real player because of your talent, because of what you have shown you can do despite being extremely young and because of your personality,”
Real president Florentino Perez said before presenting Hernandez with a team jersey bearing his name and the number 15.
“You wanted to wear this jersey above all others even though other big clubs, as we all know, wanted you. Your determination and conviction are gestures which Real fans will not forget.”
Hernandez, a France Under-20 international, joined Atletico in 2008 aged 11 but never made a first team appearance for the side.
