Real Madrid playmaker James Rodriguez has signed for Bayern Munich on a two-year loan deal – in a move that reunites him with Italian manager Carlo Ancelotti.
Rodriguez will have a medical with the German giants before completing his move to the Allianz Arena – in a deal which could cost up to £40million.
Bayern will also have an option to buy the Colombia international permanently at the end of the loan deal on June 30, 2019. The initial loan will cost them £9m with another £31m on top of that, should they wish to make it a permanent one too.
Carlo Ancelotti signed James Rodriguez from Monaco in a deal that cost Real Madrid £63million in the summer of 2014 after a glorious World Cup.
During their one season together they won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
However, at the end of the 2014-15 season saw Carlo Ancelotti sacked by Real president Florentino Perez.
Two seasons on though, Ancelotti and Rodriguez are reunited – this time at Bayern Munich – with the latter joining on a two-year loan to begin with.
He will be a member of the Bayern squad that sets off on Sunday evening for their pre-season 12-day Audi Summer Tour to China and Singapore.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge expressed his delight at the capture of the 25-year-old – revealing that he was Ancelotti’s main priority this summer.
‘We’re delighted we’ve been able to complete this transfer,’ he told the club’s official website.
‘Signing James Rodríguez was our coach Carlo Ancelotti’s biggest wish, following their successful spell working together in Madrid.
‘James is a very versatile player. He’s a goalscorer himself, he sets up a lot of goals and on top of that he’s great from set-pieces. There’s no question that this transfer further increases the quality in our team.’
Ancelotti and Rodriguez worked together at Real Madrid with the latter joining in a £63million deal in the summer of 2014 from Monaco after excelling for his country at that year’s World Cup.
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