Rayo chief: James deal is like Maradona to Napoli
Rayo Vallecano president Martín Presa has lauded his team’s signing of Colombia star James Rodríguez on a free transfer, comparing the move to Maradona’s arrival at Napoli in 1984.
Rayo announced Rodríguez’s arrival on Monday and Presa told the El Partidazo de COPE radio show that the forward’s compatriot Radamel Falcao helped facilitate the surprise transfer for the Madrid club.
“I called him a month ago, directly,” Presa said. “We have a mutual friend in Radamel Falcao. We saw what the possibilities were, and though at first it was difficult, in the end we achieved something historic for Rayo Vallecano: bringing in the MVP of the Copa América.
“We are a humble but ambitious team, like Napoli when they signed Maradona. Since then nothing like this had been achieved.”
Presa added that Rodríguez would not be rushed straight into action, given he last played in the final of the Copa América on July 14 in Miami.
“Five weeks have passed since he played in the Copa América final and he’s been on holiday; we’re not going to risk his season by risking one game. He has to be handled carefully, he’s like a Formula 1 driver, he has to last the whole season.”
Rayo Vallecano are exploring the possibility of signing Memphis Depay as a free agent to partner James Rodríguez in attack ahead of the new season, a source has told ESPN.
The Netherlands international’s team said reports linking him to Rayo were only “rumours” when asked by ESPN, but a Rayo source insists they are considering his arrival as it would be the icing on the cake in a special season in which the Madrid club will celebrate 100 years of history.
However, the same source admits that it is a complicated deal from an economic point of view and that it could only happen if Raul de Tomás leaves the club first.
Rayo host Barcelona on Tuesday with the Catalan club’s new signing Dani Olmo likely to feature after an injury to Andreas Christensen allowed them to register the former RB Leipzig star.
Information from ESPN’s Rodrigo Faez contributed to this report.
