James Rodriguez on the brink of surprise move to second-tier club

James Rodriguez is reportedly closing in on a move to Serie B side US Avellino.

The ex-Real Madrid star has been a free agent since June following a brief spell in the USA having left Minnesota United.

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Rodriguez spent just over three months with the MLS outfit before leaving to prepare for the World Cup.

But he could now be set to end his four-month spell without a club, having been offered an intriguing route back into the game.

Rodriguez set for Italy switch?

According to Spanish outlet Marca, Rodriguez is set to join Italian second-tier side Avellino.

As per the report, the Colombia star is currently in talks with the Serie B side, with an agreement close to being reached between both parties.

Financial terms are yet to be finalised, with this the last obstacle between the playmaker and a move to Italy.

Should Rodriguez go through with joining Avellino, he will be managed by a familiar name to football fans.

Legendary former Italy and AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta is the current manager of the Wolves.

The 2006 World Cup winner took charge of Avellino in June, signing a two-year deal with the Campania club.

Marca’s report states that Nesta has held talks with Rodriguez himself, as he looks to convince the Colombian to help inspire a Serie A promotion charge.

Avellino finished eighth in Serie B last term, the last available play-off place, but were then eliminated in the preliminary round.

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They currently sit fifth in the Italian second division after the first three matches of the new season, winning twice and drawing once.

James Rodriguez’s career

With Rodriguez closing in on a move to Italy, he looks set to join the 14th club of his senior career.

The attacking midfielder burst onto the scene at the 2014 World Cup, when he starred in Colombia’s run to the quarter-finals.

He scored one of the goals of the tournament, a stunning volley against Uruguay, and netted another five times while also providing two assists to win the Golden Boot.

Later on in the same summer, Rodriguez moved to Real Madrid in a £63million deal, and went on to spend six years on the Spanish giants’ books.

He made 125 appearances overall for the Spanish giants, and registered 37 goals and 42 assists as well as winning both LaLiga and the Champions League twice.

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Rodriguez spent the 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons on loan at Bayern Munich, scoring 15 goals to help clinch back-to-back Bundesliga titles.

In September 2020, the playmaker joined Everton as he reunited with former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti.

He enjoyed a strong season with the Toffees, scoring six and assisting nine goals in 26 appearances across all competitions throughout the 2020/21 campaign.

However, Rafael Benitez took over as manager in June 2021 – a move Rodriguez has since revealed effectively spelled the end of his time in Merseyside – and he departed for Qatari outfit Al Rayyan in September of the same year.

Rodriguez has had a nomadic career since then, moving to Greek side Olympiakos in 2022, before leaving and spending a year in Brazil at Sao Paulo.

A return to Spain with Rayo Vallecano followed in the 2024/25 campaign, and he then moved on to Mexican outfit Leon, before an eight-game stint in MLS with Minnesota United earlier this year.