James Rodriguez hailed as top transfer by Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge
Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has called the signing of James Rodriguez "a very very good transfer" and revealed the Bundesliga leaders could get the on-loan Real Madrid man at a knockdown price.
Out of favour with the UEFA Champions League winner's coach, Zinedine Zidane, in Madrid, James moved to Bayern last summer looking to kickstart his career with a two-year loan deal.
The Colombian superstar has already done that and more with his stunning performance in the Matchday 28 demolition of Borussia Dortmund the latest in a string of five-star displays that have left Rummenigge purring.
Watch: How James Rodriguez runs the show at Bayern Munich
Title role
"We are completely happy with his development, especially since Jupp Heynckes became coach," the Bayern CEO said. "He is a very, very good transfer."
James scored one goal and quite brilliantly set up another two in Bayern's emphatic 6-0 dismissal of Dortmund, pushing the club to within a win of their 27th Bundesliga title. The former Porto FC and AS Monaco man now has five goals and nine assists in just 18 Bundesliga appearances this season.
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Bargain Buy-ern?
Normally, such statistics and displays would send a player's market value sky-rocketing, but Bayern have already locked in the deal for James, which could see him make a permanent switch to the Allianz Arena for a bargain fee.
"There is no hurry," said Rummenigge when asked when Bayern might exercise their purchase option for James, who will be close to turning 28 at the end of the 2018/19 campaign.
"We have very clear conditions in terms of the contract. We have a two-year loan deal and then a purchase-option of €42 million that we will have to take up."
Watch: The James show in Bayern's 6-0 demolition of Dortmund