Jose Mourinho slammed performance of reported Tottenham Hotspur transfer option James Rodriguez last season

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Tottenham Hotspur could end up signing James Rodriguez when the next transfer window opens, according to a report from Canal RCN. They claim that Real Madrid could use the Colombian to help reduce the cost of a deal for Tottenham’s striker Harry Kane. 

The report states that Real Madrid would struggle to meet Tottenham’s potential asking price for Kane amid the current global crisis and that Rodriguez’s inclusion might lower that cost. With AS recently reporting that Rodriguez remains valued at €50 million (£44m), he would certainly make a dent.

Tottenham would, of course, be welcoming of a new midfield playmaker, after losing Christian Eriksen to Inter Milan in January. 

However, if past comments are anything to go by, Tottenham boss Jose Mourinho is unlikely to want James at the club. 

After Liverpool defeated Bayern Munich 3-1 at the Allianz Arena in the Champions League last season, Mourinho spoke to Russia Today about the result as part of his work as a pundit for the site. 

As quoted by Metro, it was clear that Mourinho was not a fan of then-Bayern loanee Rodriguez’s performance. 

“Bayern was just sad to see. I think they buckled at every possible perspective. Liverpool was the team that brought the line up, Bayern was the team that kept the line back, big distance between the lines. 

“[Robert] Lewandowski too lonely. No pressure in the midfield. James Rodriguez absolutely lost, incapable of making any kind of pressing, any kind of game in between the lines or connection with the three attacking players. So I think really a sad performance from Bayern.”

Of course, that could just be his opinion based on one performance. Rodriguez certainly did look like a shadow of his 2014 World Cup self in that display. 

But Rodriguez is certainly something of a luxury player and it is hard to see how Mourinho would manage to fit him into his style of play at Tottenham Hotspur.