James Rodriguez has compared his situation at Everton to Sergio Aguero’s at Barcelona in a major hint about his future.
The Colombian only signed for the Toffees last summer, scoring six times and registering nine assists in his first season in English football.
He has 12 months remaining on his current contract at Goodison Park, but has been heavily linked with an exit during this window.
And in an interview conducted on Twitch, the 30-year-old has admitted that ‘practically’ the only reason he signed for the club was because of Carlo Ancelotti.
Rodriguez worked alongside Ancelotti at Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, opting to link back up with him in the Premier League.
However, with Ancelotti back in Madrid, Rodriguez has seemingly suggested he could follow his old boss out of Merseyside.
He referenced the predicament Aguero finds himself at Barcelona, having signed to play with Lionel Messi only to see the compatriot leave the Nou Camp.
“Kun Agüero went to Barcelona, and now Messi is leaving. They just happen to be little breadsticks, partners,” El Espanol transcribed.
“Those are the things that football has. The same thing happened to me. I go to Everton, practically because Ancelotti was there and look, now Carlo is gone.
“I don’t know what is going to happen. In football and in life, we don’t know anything. Let’s see what happens.”
Despite his apparent openness to depart the club, Rodriguez said he is still training hard and is ready to perform under Rafa Benitez, should a move not materialise.
“All I know is that I’m training hard, preparing well,” he added. “That’s it, that’s the most important thing.
“You have to think about the present, and the present is that I’m here and I’m training hard and physically well for everything that’s coming.”
The ECHO claim that Benitez doesn’t see the playmaker in his plans, due to his lack of work off-the-ball and his patchy injury record.
They add that Everton are well aware that shipping the club’s highest earner out on a permanent deal will be difficult and accept that a loan where they pay a portion of his salary is more likely.
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