Author: Soorya G
São Paulo Futebol Clube made an important announcement on Saturday, revealing the signing of experienced 32-year-old Colombian striker James Rodríguez.
Negotiations between the prestigious club and the attacking midfielder began approximately 40 days ago and gained momentum in the last week
. The official contract with James has been finalized,
Filled with joy, James Rodríguez expressed his enthusiasm for this new chapter in his life, declaring: “I’m thrilled! This is a tremendous opportunity for me and my family. I feel a mixture of positive emotions. As someone who loves playing for renowned clubs, joining São Paulo, an important team, is really gratifying.“
![](https://p2.trrsf.com/image/fget/cf/1200/900/middle/images.terra.com/2023/07/29/1792509109-james-rodrigues-no-sao-paulo-twitter-saopaulofc.jpg)
The São Paulo job will be James’ first experience in Brazil in a long career. The Colombian has represented some of the biggest clubs in the world, signing for Real Madrid in Spain and then having spells in Germany and England, playing for Bayern Munchen and Everton respectively. James established a close relationship with Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti, under whom he excelled. A spell at Porto in Portugal was also one of the highlights of his career. However, injury problems put an end to an exciting career and the veteran moved to Greek side Olympiakos last season.
Looking back on his lauded career so far, James Rodríguez boasts an impressive record, including two Club World Cup triumphs and two Champions League wins during his tenure at Real Madrid. His outstanding goal for the Colombian national team against Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup earned him the prestigious Puskás Award.
Now I’m a tricolor 🔴⚪️⚫️ pic.twitter.com/2vf6MP5fKc
– James Rodríguez (@jamesdrodriguez) July 29, 2023
Eager to connect with São Paulo fans, James took to social media and wrote his first message: “
I’m a tricolor
“.
Before his deal with São Paulo was made official, James was linked with several other clubs, including a move to Saudi Arabia. However, Rodrigues chose the Brazilian championship over all the other options. With his arrival, São Paulo fans are looking forward to witnessing his talent and contributions which will undoubtedly improve the team’s performance in the coming games.