Joining record Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich was too good an opportunity to miss for James Rodriguez. - © © imago
Joining record Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich was too good an opportunity to miss for James Rodriguez. - © © imago

Bayern Munich's James Rodriguez: “I want to win trophies"

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

New Bayern Munich signing James Rodriguez has said he joined the record Bundesliga champions to win trophies.

The 26-year-old Colombia international was speaking to media in Singapore on Monday after his move from Real Madrid to Bayern on a two-year loan deal earlier this month.

“I came to Bayern because Bayern are a great club,” James said ahead of Tuesday’s International Champions Cup match against Chelsea.

“They are always at the top and challenging for the Champions League. I want to win trophies and I hope I can manage it with this great team and coach. I want to play my part in it.”

The attacking midfielder played 45 minutes in Bayern’s recent Bundesliga World Tour friendly against AC Milan and he feels he is not far away from his best.

“I’m excited and motivated to be here with the team,” the former Porto and Monaco player said.

“I’m getting better physically and I’m on the right path.”

Click here to find out 10 things you might not know about James Rodriguez

James has been reunited with Ancelotti at Bayern after he flourished under the Italian during the one season the pair spent together at Real Madrid. Ancelotti is happy to be able to call upon the Golden Boot winner from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

“James Rodriguez is a fantastic player,” the Bayern boss said. “He knows how to open up defences for our strikers with that killer pass.

"He can help us play that final pass to our attackers – more often and more effectively.”

Having been at Bayern since 2012, Javi Martinez should be able to show James the ropes. - © gettyimages / Alexander Hassenstein

Meanwhile, Bayern defender Javi Martinez has promised to do his bit to make sure that fellow native Spanish speaker James can feel at home at the club.  

“He can’t speak German and his English is not so good,” the Spaniard told Sport1.

“We both speak Spanish so I’m helping him.

“When Claudio Pizarro was still here and I couldn’t understand a word [of German] he supported me back then.”

Martinez is also pleased that James will add to Bayern’s attacking arsenal in the new season.

“James is, for me, one of the best players in the world,” the Spain international said.

“He has a special talent on the ball that very few people possess. We can be very proud that he plays for us.”

Think you know it all about James? Well put that knowledge to the test!

Click here for all the latest from Bayern's Bundesliga World Tour 2017 trip to China and Singapore