Cristiano Ronaldo wants James Rodriguez to stay put at Real Madrid but would understand the reasons if the Colombian star leaves the club this summer.
Rodriguez has found life unhappy under Zidane and has been highly linked with a move away to Manchester United in the summer due to lack of game-time.
It is believed that Real Madird president Florentino Perez is now willing to offload the Colombian, whom he had made the third-most expensive player in history when he had splurged £71million to secure his signatures in 2014 from AS Monaco.
And now the La Liga giants want to recover most of the money they had paid in 2014, but FootTheBall sources reveal that Real Madrid will accept an offer in the region of £50m.
The Colombian’s current contract at Real Madrid is due to expire in 2020 but he is keen on making a move out of Madrid in search of regular football.
Rodriguez has lacked game-time at Real Madrid but has displayed good form for the Los Blancos – with 36 goals to his name in 109 appearances and was also a part of the squad that clinched the Champions League title last season.
Inter Milan are also interested in roping in the services of Rodriguez, but four-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo wants the 25-year-old to stay in the Spanish capital.
Ronaldo said: “James has his reasons [to leave] and we have to respect them,”
“If he doesn’t feel happy and if he wants more, then he should look for the best thing for him.”
“If he asked my opinion, I would tell him to stay.”
“Obviously he has his complaints and the best thing would be that he plays more, but these are very personal things.”
“He has the potential to play for Real Madrid, but he has his reasons and we must respect them.”