James Rodriguez to Real Madrid: Colombia star could complete €90m deal 'as soon as Monday'... and is spotted 'boarding a flight to Madrid'

Pictures emerge on social media of Monaco player allegedly flying to Spain

Sunday 20 July 2014 16:35 BST

James Rodriguez was allegedly spotted boarding a plane from Medellin to Madrid (Twitter/Juanma Gomez)

World Cup star James Rodriguez could make a €90m move to Real Madrid 'in the next 48 hours', according to reports in France.

In a further twist to the deal, the Colombia and Monaco star was allegedly spotted boarding a flight from Medellin to Madrid, as pictures emerged on social media.

A picture by Twitter user Juanma Gomez (@jmagomez8) showed Rodriguez in what appears to be an airport.

He said: "I have just seen James on the Madrid to Medellin plane, we are on the same flight".

French newspaper L'Equipe said on Saturday night that Monaco would accept a €90m (£71m) from Los Blancos for the 22-year-old who took the World Cup by storm.

They said a deal could be completed within 48 hours, while Spanish paper AS last week said Rodriguez and the defending European champions had already verbally agreed terms.

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

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1/10World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Angel Di Maria (Argentina)

The Argentinian wing has endless levels of energy that compliments Argentina’s never-say-die attitude, and the South Americans can thank the Real Madrid winger for helping them conquer Switzerland in the second round when the tie looked for all certainty to be heading to penalties. Missed the semi-final through injury, which could have scuppered any chance of winning the award.

EPA

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Mats Hummels (Germany)

Germany’s most reliable defender in a back-four that sometimes appears unstable to say the least, but his prowess in front of goal has seen him included on the shortlist. Scored in the comfortable 4-0 win over Portugal, but it was Hummels’ match-winning header against France that stands out as his defining moment, outmuscling Mamadou Sakho to score early on in the quarter-final.

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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Toni Kroos (Germany)

Kroos has been the driving force behind the famed German attack, and has arguably been their most influential player throughout the tournament. Chipped in with two goals in the 7-1 demolition of Brazil, but leads the way in assists with two against Portugal, the cross for Hummels’ header against France and one against Brazil.

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Philipp Lahm (Germany)

Joachim Loew went against his word to switch Lahm back to his natural right-back berth, but the move has been a masterstroke as Germany kept a clean sheet against France and conceded a late consolation against Brazil when they were seven goals up. The German captain has led by example, and is the model of consistency as he rarely ever makes a mistake that costs his side.

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Javier Mascherano (Argentina)

Regularly deployed as a centre-back for Barcelona, Mascherano has flourished in the defensive midfield role that he used to grace, and offered a solid protection in front of the back-four. His commitment to this competition is unquestionable, and can be summed up by his match-saving block on Arjen Robben’s shot, when by his own admission he “tore his anus” in diving to block the ball. “The pain…it was terrible,” he unsurprisingly added. Heroic nonetheless.

Getty Images

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Regularly deployed as a centre-back for Barcelona, Mascherano has flourished in the defensive midfield role that he used to grace, and offered a solid protection in front of the back-four. His commitment to this competition is unquestionable, and can be summed up by his match-saving block on Arjen Robben’s shot, when by his own admission he “tore his anus” in diving to block the ball. “The pain…it was terrible,” he unsurprisingly added. Heroic nonetheless.

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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Thomas Müller (Germany)

Muller will have his eyes on the Golden Boot as well as the Golden Ball, as he trails top scorer James Rodriguez by a single goal heading into Sunday’s final. While he may not be the most gifted footballer in the world, he sure knows how to put the ball in the back of the net, identified by his brilliant hat-trick in the win over Portugal and his further efforts against the United States and Brazil. His ability to float between an attacking midfielder and a striker poses the opposition serious questions about picking him up, and he’s certainly taken his chances in Brazil (just don’t mention that free-kick fail).

Getty Images

World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Neymar (Brazil)

The poster boy of the World Cup saw his participation curtailed early after he suffered a fractured vertebra, but his influence on Brazil’s first five games illuminated the nation with the belief that they would win the tournament. His four goals early on put him in the hunt for the Golden Boot, and his absence in Brazil’s humiliating defeats in the semi-finals and third-place play-off have actually done him a favour in his hope of taking the award.

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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

Arjen Robben (Netherlands)

His pace tore apart defending world champions Spain in the opening 5-1 victory, and he was instrumental in Louis van Gaal’s plans to hit teams on the counter attack. He netted the opener in the dramatic 3-2 win over Australia, but it was his tendency to go down easily – he admitted that he dived against Mexico – that infuriated other sides. Ran out of gas when it came to the latter stages, but still tormented the Brazilians on Saturday night, as he won a penalty within the first three minutes after ghosting past Thiago Silva.

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World Cup 2014 - Fifa Golden Ball shortlist

James Rodriguez (Colombia)

The breakthrough star of the tournament – if a 45m euros signing can be a breakthrough, that is. Rodriguez proved to be a revelation in Brazil, as he became the first Colombian to score in each of their group stage matches. Not content with that, he scored both goals in the 2-0 win over Uruguay, and a late consolation against Brazil in the quarter-final exit. His performances in the absence of talisman Radamel Falcao have been outstanding, prompting talk of a move to Real Madrid or Manchester United, and he is a solid outside bet for the Golden Ball award, yet he could still seal the Golden Boot providing Thomas Müller doesn’t score in the final.

AFP

The Spanish paper also reported that Rodriguez is refusing to play in a pre-season friendly for Madrid, fearing a potential injury could ruin his dream move to Los Blancos. Monaco play Junior Barranquillo on Sunday night.

Rodriguez was the tournament's top scorer with six goals - he also added two assists as Colombia reached the quarter-final stage.

He was shortlisted for the World Cup Golden Ball and has also been nominated for Uefa's Best Player in Europe.

Rodriguez cost Monaco €45m (£36m) last summer and he went on to score 10 goals and provide 12 assists in all competitions as Monaco finished second in Ligue 1.

Arsenal manager said Rodriguez was probably too big for Monaco and that a move to Real Madrid or Barcelona was inevitable.

When asked by beIN Sports he said: "I believe that’s true [that Rodriguez is too big for the Ligue 1 club].

"Why? Because a player like that is difficult to keep at a club when you have Real Madrid and Barcelona looking around, and without a doubt there will be people who will be watching them play and thinking about buying him."

Real Madrid completed the signing of another World Cup star, Toni Kroos, on Friday.

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