James Rodriguez completes Real Madrid switch

July 22, 2014
By: Deke Hardman

James Rodriguez

Real Madrid have signed World Cup Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez to further enhance their already stellar front-line.

The Colombia international scored six times in Brazil this summer, netting in all five of his country’s matches with the best of the bunch coming in the last sixteen victory over Uruguay.

With Real paying a reported £63m for the 23 year old, the El Classico clubs now occupy the top five most expensive transfers in history.

Rodriguez is fifth on the list, behind Barcelona duo Luis Suarez and Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo in second and Gareth Bale top of the pile.

With World Cup winner Toni Kroos also brought in by the La Liga giants in the close season, they once again look set to make an assault both domestically and in Europe.

The won the Champions League back in May after beating neighbours Atletico Madrid in dramatic circumstances in Lisbon, while they also tasted victory in the Copa del Rey.

In the league they finished in third place – their lowest position in a decade, though they are favourites to win a first title in three years at a best price of 1.91 (10/11) with a number of firms.

They are joint favourites to retain the Champions League, with Bet Victor offering a price of 5.5 (9/2) though Bayern Munich can be backed at the same price with Ladbrokes.

In terms of individual honours, Rodriguez is priced at 26.0 (25/1) with 888 Sport to win the Ballon d’Or, with new teammates Cristiano Ronaldo second favourite at 3.75 (11/4) with Bet Victor, and Gareth Bale a 34.0 (33/1) shot with Paddy Power.

Bet Victor offer 1.29 (2/7) for them to win any major trophy and 21.0 (20/1) for them to clinch the treble while they can be backed at 3.5 (5/2) to end the season without any silverware.

The have managed to clinch at least one trophy in all but one of the past eight campaigns, with the 2009/10 season the only one they finished empty handed in that time.

Real’s next friendly is against Inter Milan in the International Champions Cup, which beings in the USA at the weekend.

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