CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has said there is no hurry for Bayern Munich to make James Rodriguez’s transfer from Real Madrid permanent.
James, 26, joined on a two-year loan from Real Madrid last summer, with Bayern paying a fee of €6.5 million per season and Madrid reportedly not including a recall option.
“There’s absolute clarity regarding his contract situation,” Rummenigge said on Monday at Munich’s airport before Bayern flew to Sevilla for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinal.
“We have a two-year loan deal and then we have a €42 million option to buy to take up. There isn’t any hurry.”
Since Jupp Heynckes returned for a fourth term as coach in October, no other Bayern player has provided as many assists in all competitions as the Colombia international.
Rodriguez scored his fifth goal in 18 Bundesliga appearances and took his assist tally to double figures in Bayern’s 6-0 thrashing of Borussia Dortmund on Satuday, laying on goals for captain Thomas Muller and Franck Ribery.
“We are totally happy with his development, especially since Jupp Heynckes took over,” Rummenigge said.
Rodriguez was initially lured to Bavaria last summer by former boss Carlo Ancelotti, who also signed the top scorer at the 2014 World Cup during his time coaching Madrid.
“It was a very, very good transfer and I have to thank Carlo Ancelotti once again,” Rummenigge said.
Rummenigge also said that the club wouldn’t be rushed into discussing deals with Ribery or Arjen Robben, whose contracts expire at the end of the season.
Signed from Marseilles in 2007, Ribery will turn 35 on Saturday, while, Robben, 34, was brought to the club two years later from Madrid by former Bayern boss Louis van Gaal.
“Sometimes you must sit down in peace and quiet and discuss things seriously. This is what we will do,” Rummenigge said.
“There aren’t any problems. We know that they are both great players with whom we have enjoyed amazing success over the last decade. They both enjoy a very high standing at Bayern Munich.”
Mark Lovell covers Bayern Munich for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @LovellLowdown.
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