James father on Real Madrid future: "He's going to stay"
Wilson Rodríguez has followed agent Jorge Mendes in declaring that the 25-year-old midfielder is going nowhere this January.Argentina - Nigeria
The father of Real Madrid player James Rodríguez has scotched talk of his son leaving the Santiago Bernabéu in the winter transfer window.
"James is going to stay"
Speculation has been rife over the future of the Colombian, who has been reduced to a bit-part role at Real and is the 20th most used player in the squad.
But in quotes published by the media outlet Diez, Wilson Rodríguez indicated that James is to fight for his place under Zinedine Zidane, declaring: "He's going to stay."
Agent: "James will not be leaving"
Rodríguez Sr's comments come in the wake of similar remarks by agent Jorge Mendes, who told AS this week: "James will not be leaving Madrid in January."
Could seek summer move
However, as previously revealed by this newspaper, the 25-year-old could look for an exit route if his situation remains the same come June 2017.
There would be no shortage of suitors, with Manchester United and Chelsea keen admirers and Inter Milan and Bayern Munich also likely to enter the picture.
Real, who will then have served their FIFA transfer ban, would listen to offers but would also seek to recoup most of the 80m euros spent on the player in 2014.
Update 12 May 2017: James has reached an initial agreement with Manchester United.