Real Madrid transfer news: James Rodriguez should leave – Stepfather

Rodriguez, 25, failed to make Real’s match-day squad for the Champions League final and has made just 13 La Liga starts all season. 

The Colombia international has been heavily linked with a move away from the Bernabeu with Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Inter Milan and Paris Saint-Germain all apparently interested in securing his signature. 

And those clubs could now be on red alert with his stepfather urging him to leave Real Madrid in search of regular first-team football. 

“I like to watch my son playing but these are decisions that he has to make,” Restrepo told Spanish radio station Onda Cero. 

“If it were up to me, I would tell him to look for [a team] where he can play, where they value him more. 

“But we have to think that Real Madrid are a top team and have treated him very well.

“The footballer is special, he is not happy if he is not on the pitch. 

“I guess he had the illusion of playing the Champions League final but these are the circumstances. We have to accept them and keep working. 

“I’m not aware [of his plans] because I respect the professionals who are around James.

“I do not ask what conversations he’s had [with other clubs] but if it depended on me, I want to see him on the pitch. A talent like James has to be on the pitch.”

Restrepo also told Onda Cero that he believes it has been hard for Rodriguez to compete with the likes of Karim Benzema, Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo. 

“He has a different kind of talent to the members of the BBC front three,” he explained.