James Rodriguez may have won a few medals with Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, but his narrative is still one of the most pitiful in the sport’s annals. Signed by Real Madrid on the back of a great World Cup campaign in which he won the Golden Boot, the Colombian was expected to shine at the highest level for many years.
Sadly, almost a decade later, James Rodriguez now plies his trade at Sao Paulo in Brazil after some ill-fated spells in Greece and Qatar, the latter of which saw him banned from showering naked as he revealed his struggles in the Middle Eastern country during his twelve-month spell.
James Rodriguez opens up on his Qatar spell
James Rodriguez signed for Qatari side Al-Rayyan after his spell in England with Everton ended in 2021. Later, the Colombian would only stay at the club for one year before having his contract mutually terminated in September 2022.
Over a year later, James Rodriguez has now opened up about why he found it difficult to adapt to life in Qatar amidst several cultural and personal struggles.
“Life and culture in Qatar are very difficult; it was a country where it was difficult to adapt,” the former Real Madrid playmaker revealed via Daily Mail.
“You know that in football, everyone is naked when they shower, but my teammates told me I couldn’t do it like that. I was afraid. Everyone there ate with their hands, which was difficult for me. They shared it with me, and I said, ‘No thanks’. I asked for cutlery, and they told me, ‘No, with our hand,’ and I replied, ‘You guys are crazy, I won’t eat with my hands’.”
James’ struggle with the bathroom culture in Qatar summed up his ability to adapt to life in the most uncomfortable places, as he also talked about life in Germany when he played for Bayern.
“It’s cold there,” he said. “The Germans are also cold people, even if I was treated fantastically at FC Bayern. There were days when I went to work at 9 am, I turned on the car and the temperature was -28. I say, ‘What am I doing here?’ Munich is a city with a lot of quality of life, but I couldn’t be comfortable,” he added.
Rodriguez’s life after Qatar
Following the termination of his contract by mutual consent in Qatar, James Rodriguez swiftly signed a free transfer deal with Greek club Olympiacos on the same day. He was given his favorite number 10 jersey, which didn’t bring him much luck on his debut, which they lost 2-1.
Surprisingly, James’ contract was once more terminated by mutual consent after six months. Upon the termination of his contract, the Colombian secured a deal with Brazilian outfit Sao Paulo in July 2023, penning a two-year deal with the club, which will expire in July 2025.
Can James Rodriguez get one last chance to play in Europe?
