Lazio's Sporting Director Angelo Fabiani rebuffs James Rodriguez transfer rumours

James Rodriguez won the Golden Ball award in Copa America 2024.

Columbia’s star captain James Rodríguez has been linked with several top clubs throughout the summer ever since his incredible performances for the national team in Copa America 2024.

Rodriguez enjoyed a career-reviving campaign in this year’s Copa America in the United States. He led Columbia all the way to the grand finale of the tournament. The 33-year-old attacking midfielder recorded an impressive one goal and six assists in six appearances of the competition. Owing to his outstanding displays, Rodriguez was the recipient of the coveted Golden Ball award in the 2024 Copa America.

With James Rodríguez and his former employers São Paulo mutually terminating his club contract a year earlier, several top teams, such as Bayer Leverkusen and Porto have been interested in acquiring his services this summer.

In the 2023-24 season, the former Real Madrid star endured an underwhelming club campaign at Brazilian side São Paulo. He made just eight appearances across all competitions while registering a mere one goal and one assist.

In recent days, James Rodríguez has been strongly linked with a move to Italian side SS Lazio. According to several reports, Rodríguez is looking to return to European football for the upcoming season. Therefore was offered to the Lazio board as a free agent signing.

However, Lazio’s Sporting Director Angelo Mariano Fabiani rebuffed the transfer rumours in a candid interview with Radio Sei. Fabiani stated, “I’d never sign James Rodriguez, impossible. The rumours are fake.”.

“He’s 33 and never played more than 12/13 games in the recent years. He did well in Copa América, but we are not even interested in signing James.”

Last season, Lazio endured a mixed-bag season. They finished seventh in the Serie A, securing European football in the process. However, during the summer, the Italian outfit lost several key players, such as Luis Alberto, Daichi Kamada, Felipe Anderson and club legend Ciro Immobile.

In addition, Marco Baroni was appointed as the new first-team head coach on a two-year deal. Former manager Igor Tudor had resigned from his position owing to profound disagreements with the club’s hierarchy over transfer policies.

On the other hand, James Rodríguez has endured a torrid time in club football during recent seasons. His last notable spell came at Premier League side Everton almost four years ago, where he was delivering the goods under current Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti.

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