Zinedine Zidane performs major U-turn on Real Madrid star set to stay at club

James Rodriguez

Real Madrid are no longer looking to sell James Rodriguez, report COPE.

The Colombia international spent the last two seasons on loan at Bayern Munich and has been heavily linked with a departure from the Santiago Bernabeu this summer.

Atletico Madrid and Napoli both expressed an interest in James, who was also spoken of as a potential target for Manchester United.

However, Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane has now decided to keep the playmaker at the club.

Zidane now views James as an important player for the season ahead, although it remains to be seen whether he will appear in Saturday's clash with Celta Vigo.

The former Monaco man has won one La Liga title and two Champions Leagues at Madrid.

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Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football journalist who's filled in wherever FourFourTwo needs him since 2014. He became a Crystal Palace fan after watching a 1-0 loss to Port Vale in 1998, and once got on the scoresheet in a primary school game against Wilfried Zaha's Whitehorse Manor (an own goal in an 8-0 defeat).