James Rodriguez would probably admit he didn’t do himself any favours at Everton.
While boasting the sort of technical gifts Alex Iwobi could only dream of, a fanbase as demanding and passionate as Everton’s was never likely to embrace a man who spent much of his time at Goodison Park scowling and strolling, his lack of defensive diligence creating as many problems as his vision and skill solved at the other end of the pitch.
And while Carlo ‘the Galactico whisperer’ Ancelotti may have been willing to bend to James’ whims, Rafa Benitez – who famously froze him out at Real Madrid – certainly wasn’t.
As soon as Benitez arrived, Everton turned their attention to getting James – and his eye-watering £200,000-a-week pay packet – off a wage bill that would make a statue cry.
And they succeeded too, packing the former £63 million Real Madrid superstar off to Qatar.
But not before James inadvertently scuppered any hopes Everton had of luring one of the planet’s most exciting forwards to Goodison Park.
Luis Diaz was keen on Everton move
Everton submitted a £25 million bid for Porto whizzkid Luis Diaz in the final few days of the summer transfer window (Marca).
Diaz was keen on the move too, according to the all-knowing Fabrizio Romano.
But a player-plus-cash deal that would have seen James move in the other direction – and rejoin the club where he made his name on European soil – fell apart because of the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner’s wage demands.
Three months on, reports linking Diaz with a move to Merseyside have resurfaced. Unfortunately for Everton, however, Liverpool now appear to be leading the race for the Colombia international, according to Portuguese publication Jornal de Noticias.
It’s understood Liverpool see Diaz, who has scored 11 goals in 16 games this season, as competition for – and potentially a replacement for – Mo Salah or Sadio Mane at Anfield.
James certainly had his moments at Everton – those two goals against Brighton, that stirring comeback against Manchester United, a wondrous assist for the club’s first win at Anfield since 1999.
But it’s difficult to escape the feeling Everton’s most high-profile signing since the turn of the century proved more trouble than he was worth.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
