The National Times - Colombia star Rodriguez leaves La Liga for Mexico

Weather - Sydney 19°C

Colombia star Rodriguez leaves La Liga for Mexico

SPORTS 13.01.2025

Colombia star Rodriguez leaves La Liga for Mexico / Photo: © AFP

Colombia captain and ex-Real Madrid star James Rodriguez has joined Mexico's Club Leon after a brief and unsuccessful stint with La Liga side Rayo Vallecano, the clubs announced on Monday.

Change text size:

The former Bayern Munich and Monaco playmaker joined Rayo for free at the start of the season but only made six league appearances for the Madrid club, which wished him "the best of luck".

Club Leon unveiled the transfer with a dramatic video in which Rodriguez plays a fleet-footed Roman gladiator adulated by a roaring crowd.

The 33-year-old greeted his new fans in a brief video announcing he was already in Mexico "with a lot of enthusiasm, with lots of excitement".

Rodriguez was player of the tournament as Colombia finished as runners-up in last year's Copa America and won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup.

He lifted two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues with Real Madrid and won two Bundesliga trophies during a loan spell at Bayern.

R.Hawkins--TNT

Featured

Maswanganyi Clarifies Pirates Allegiance Amidst Career Transition

Patrick Maswanganyi has addressed speculation surrounding his career by reaffirming that Orlando Pirates remains his dream club, despite growing up as a Kaizer Chiefs supporter. Speaking during an exclusive interview, the Bafana Bafana international also clarified the nature of his relationship with former coach Abdeslam Ouaddou following his recent exit from the Soweto giants.

Kuwait's Yasmeen Waleed Wins High Jump Gold at Dakar Youth Olympics

Kuwaiti athlete Yasmeen Waleed has won the gold medal in the high jump at the fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal. Her victory established a new Kuwaiti national record of 1.80 meters, marking a significant milestone for the nation's youth sports program.

Matvei Michkov Leads Flyers in Goals but Ranks Sixth in Ice Time

Matvei Michkov leads the Philadelphia Flyers with 10 goals through 20 games, but his total ice time ranks sixth among the team's forwards. Head coach Rick Tocchet has concentrated Michkov’s additional minutes on the power play, where he has scored five of his goals, while his even-strength usage has remained relatively stable compared to last season.

Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame Announces 2026 Inductees

The Northern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (NCJSHOF) has announced its Class of 2026 inductees, honoring four individuals for their athletic achievements and community contributions. The organization will celebrate the new class during its 19th Annual Induction Dinner Gala on November 22 at the Olympic Golf Club in South San Francisco.

Change text size: