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James Rodríguez, one of the recently signed stars by Sao Paulo from Brazil, arrived at the club with the objective of competing for the Brasileirao and Copa Sudamericana titles. However, his first days in the team have been filled with ups and downs. The presentation of the talented Colombian midfielder to the media caused a great uproar among the Paulista fans, who remember him for his notable achievements in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. With his successful stints at teams like FC Porto, AS Monaco, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Everton, and Olympiacos, the expectations of the supporters are high, hoping to see the "colmacho" shine in his new challenge in Brazilian lands.
The Cucuta-born player, James Rodríguez, joins Brazilian club Sao Paulo with good references but faces complications due to his physical condition. Coach Dorival Junior mentions that his debut with the team could be delayed, ruling out the possibility of playing in the first matches against San Lorenzo or Atletico Mineiro.
What did Dorival Junior say about James Rodríguez's physical condition?
Regarding the condition of Colombian James Rodríguez, Sao Paulo's acting coach implied that there is currently no clear date for the player's debut, at least not until after the medical examinations and his development in the team.
"If I'm not mistaken, his last match was in April. He was already training alone. We have to work with him to get him fit as quickly as possible because he will be fundamental in raising the quality of our team," said the Sao Paulo coach.
"We still have no idea how James will arrive. I think he will show up in the next few days, then go through all the medical and physiological aspects that will bring the data and support us to think about a date for him to play. We hope it's as soon as possible," added the coach.
Faced with these statements, James Rodríguez also spoke to the press during his presentation, stating: "I'm physically fine, I'm very well. It's true that I always want to play, for that I have to prepare and train hard. To adapt to the rhythm of the game, I need days, I need to train. The day-to-day will give me that. I have a physical preparation plan with the club. While it's true that I need game rhythm, I also need training."
James' transfer to Sao Paulo
Colombian footballer James Rodríguez joins Sao Paulo in a free transfer after ending his contract with Olympiacos last June. The club paid 4 million euros for the signing and established a release clause of 50 million euros. At 32 years old, Rodríguez will make his debut in the competitive Brazilian football. The Paulista club officially announced his incorporation until June 2025, highlighting his quality and competitiveness to strengthen the team.
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