James Rodriguez is continuing to show Zinedine Zidane that he is worthy of a place in his plans at Real Madrid, and the Colombian turned down his latest international call in order to keep working in the capital.
After the break, Madrid will meet Real Mallorca in what will be a big test for his status in the squad.
As many as 12 Los Blancos players are representing their country during this round of internationals, and with players still recovering at Madrid, James will be a frontrunner to start.
Important players like Eden Hazard, Luka Modric, Fede Valverde, Casemiro and Gareth Bale are all playing for their countries, so James will be fresher than most.
Additionally, between Mallorca and the following LaLiga Santander game at the Camp Nou, Madrid will face Galatasaray in the Champions League.
So, as a result, all signs point towards James starting against Mallorca, and anything other than that would be a bitter blow for the player.
Mourinho recently sat down with LiveScore and was asked who is the best player of all time between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, while the Portuguese coach chose Brazilian legend Ronaldo Nazario.
“Ronaldo, the Phenomenon. Cristiano and Messi have had careers longer, they stayed at the top every day for 15 years.
“However, if we talk strictly about talent and skill, no one surpasses Ronaldo.
“When I was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realized that he was the strongest player ever seen on the field.
“His career could have been even more incredible, but the talent that this 19-year-old boy had was something amazing.”
When it comes to professional footballers, their wealth of talent often means they are comfortable playing anywhere on the pitch. It is, therefore, a manager’s job to identify where they would make the strongest impact.
Often this isn’t the easiest of tasks. Many players have started their careers in a position deemed to be their most proficient, only to be relocated later down the line.
And sometimes everything turns out for the best. Just look at these guys.
1. Bastian Schweinsteiger
Current club: Retired
Started out at: Attacking midfield/winger
Ended up: Defensive-midfield
The crowning moment in the career of Bastian Schweinsteiger, who has just announced his retirement, was the 2014 World Cup final. As Germany beat Argentina 1-0, Schweinsteiger made more tackles than any midfielder on the pitch and played the second-most passes of any player.
These are not numbers you associate with an attacker, the role in which Schweinsteiger actually started his career at Bayern Munich. There, during the early days, he was often used as a winger.
It wasn’t until he was placed into the centre of the park permanently in 2009/10 when he truly found his home and became the midfield enforcer we all know and love. The 2013 Champions League winner made around 200 appearances on the flanks before his conversion into a more defensive-minded player.
After ending a 15-year spell at Bayern, he signed for the Red Devils in 2017 and was widely expected to solve their centre midfield vulnerabilities. It’s unlikely the German will be judged by his years at Old Trafford but during his time there, and with Chicago Fire, he was primarily used as a defensive midfielder – though his final season in MLS did see Schweinsteiger deputise in central defence.
2. Branislav Ivanovic
Current club: Zenit Saint Petersburg
Started out at: Centre-back
Ended up: Right-back
A strong, aggressive and physically imposing defender, when Branislav Ivanovic signed for Chelsea in 2008 he looked like he was born to play at the heart of the Blues defence. A slightly rocky start under then-boss Avram Grant – who didn’t think the player was fit enough – meant the Serbian didn’t feature during the 2007/08 season.
Used as a centre back at Lokomotiv Moscow and for the Serbian national team, it came as a surprise to see him deployed at right-back for Chelsea when he made his debut eight months after signing. Ivanovic went on to play 377 games for the Blues, with most seeing him start on the right-hand side of the defence; his powerful frame, passing and finishing ability making him a real threat going forward.
Ivanovic moved to Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2017 as age finally started to catch up with him where he returned to centre-back.
3. Owen Hargreaves
Club: Retired
Started out at: Winger
Ended up: Defensive midfielder
It’s hard to imagine Owen Hargreaves bombing forward isn’t it? Being deployed as a winger for Bayern Munich during his younger years, the England international made 218 appearances in total for the German club and 43 of those were spent on the right wing.
Due to his supreme passing and dogged, pressing mentality, he was repositioned as a holding anchorman and when he moved to Manchester United in 2007, he carried on performing as a deep-lying playmaker rather than higher up the pitch. A total of 13 goals throughout his entire career could have been another reason behind the move…
4. Dirk Kuyt
Club: Retired
Started out at: Striker
Ended up: Winger
Perhaps not as surprising as a few of the others due to Dirk Kuyt’s amazing ability to play in almost every single position on a football pitch but the Dutchman was predominantly signed by Liverpool as a striker.
After an impressive run of goals for Feyenoord that saw him score 95 times in 144 games he made the move to Anfield and impressed with a good scoring record playing as a central forward.
Following the arrival of Fernando Torres in 2007, Kuyt started to play more as a right-winger and worked well with the Spaniard as well as successfully maintaining his place in the first team due to his impressive suitability to his new role. He would continue to act as a versatile midfielder and became a cult hero due to his exceptional workmanship and industrious endeavour.
He continued to play on the right-hand-side during his time at Fenerbahce and Feyenoord, scoring 38 goals in 77 appearances during his second spell at the latter, between 2015 and 2017, and helping them lift a first Dutch Eredivisie since 1999. Kuyt retired shortly after.
5. Moussa Sissoko
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Former position: Defensive-midfield
Ended up: Winger
When Newcastle signed Moussa Sissoko many Newcastle fans believed they had found their new David Batty, a hard-working, tackling machine. After more than 200 appearances with Toulouse and the French national side he was widely renowned for his defensive capabilities and had played almost all of his football in the middle of the pitch.
Then-Magpies boss Alan Pardew had praised the Frenchman’s physical ability and almost instantly started to deploy him as a winger at St James’ Park. Sissoko racked up 133 games for Newcastle and played all of his football on the right wing during the 2015-16 season.
Since moving to Tottenham in 2016, the 30-year-old has been shifted around the midfield, truly showing his versatility.
6. Jan Vertonghen
Club: Tottenham Hotspur
Started out at: Defensive midfielder/left back
Ended up: Centre back
Starting off as a defensive midfielder during his time in Belgium and playing as a deep-lying midfielder and left back at Ajax, Jan Vertonghen has developed into one of the finest centre-backs in Europe since signing for Tottenham Hotspur.
The Belgian claims that his favourite position was playing in the centre of the midfield during his early years but during his 292 appearances for Spurs, he has started the vast majority of them at centre back and is only used as a full back if the squad has suffered from a number of injuries. His performances alongside Toby Alderweireld – who also enjoys a little roam forward – have been spectacular.
7. Gareth Bale
Club: Real Madrid
Started out at: Left-back
Ended up: Winger/inside forward
Probably the most dramatic positional shift in the football history, Gareth Bale suddenly morphed from a competent full-back into an athletic attacking monster. During his time at Southampton, he established himself as a very capable and promising young defender but after moving to Tottenham in 2007, he started to enforce himself as a much bigger threat when used higher up the pitch.
His majestic performances against Inter Milan in 2010, when managed by Harry Redknapp, got him noticed on the world stage and he ended his Spurs career with 56 goals. Since signing for Real Madrid in 2013, he has gone on to become one of the most frightening attacking talents in world football and made one third of the lethal Los Blancos trio, alongside Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, that helped the club win four Champions League titles in five years.
8. Robin van Persie
Club: Retired
Started out at: Winger
Ended up: Striker
It’s hard to think of Robin van Persie as anything other than a deadly striker but during his early years at Feyenoord he was deployed as a winger.
It wasn’t until Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger noticed the player’s speed, pace and dribbling skills and started to play the forward in a more central attacking role that he established himself as one of the world’s best strikers.
After scoring 21 goals in 76 games for Feyenoord he went on to net 131 times for Arsenal and was a huge part of Manchester United’s title-winning campaign in 2012-13 league triumph. Van Persie retired in the summer after a homecoming at Feyenoord.
9. Javier Mascherano
Club: Hebei China Fortune
Started out at: Centre midfield
Ended up: Centre back
A bit of a different feel to the other players as Javier Mascherano was a brilliant defensive midfielder and proved to be an outstanding part of Liverpool’s midfield. But, since he moved to Barcelona in 2010 and was subsequently repositioned by Pep Guardiola to play as his central defender alongside Gerard Pique he quickly turned into one of the most talented modern-day centre backs in world football.
His sublime passing and tackling skills helped Barca play their possession-based philosophy and he went on to win 19 trophies in Catalonia. He has since reverted to defensive midfield in China with Hebei Fortune.
As Stefano Pioli arrives at Milan’s offices to sign his contract, more details have emerged about the terms of his two-year deal.
Pioli was spotted checking into Casa Milan earlier this morning, ahead of an official announcement expected at 12:00 BST.
Corriere dello Sera reports the former Fiorentina and Inter boss will put pen to paper on a two-year contract.
It would include a gentleman’s agreement for a break at the end of the season if the Rossoneri do not qualify for the Europa League or Champions League.
As for his salary, the newspaper notes he will earn €1.5m this term, which will be upped to €2m in 2020-21 if they make Europe.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates his new statue, advises Milan to “make investments” and assures he could “do better than the players in Serie A now.”
The Swedish legend is currently playing for MLS club the LA Galaxy, but returned home to Malmö to unveil a statue of himself.
“I am very happy and honoured, as it means I’ve left my mark and this will remain forever,” Zlatan told Sky Sport Italia.
“Now that there are two Ibras, the world is a better place… and more dangerous! One is the original, the other will get to live forever. Some players get to win trophies, others have trophies and a statue.”
The 38-year-old former Juventus, Inter and Milan striker was asked if he would still like to play in Serie A?
“Oh 100 per cent, I know I could still make the difference, both in Italy and in other countries. I’d do better than the players who are there now. My contract expires in December and I don’t know what will happen after that.”
His most recent Italian club, Milan, sacked Coach Marco Giampaolo today after just seven games in charge.
“I am really sad to see Milan like that, as it ought to be a club at the top when it comes to results and investments. The best players in the world ought to be there, but right now, that is not the case. They need to make investments, otherwise they won’t get anywhere. You don’t get quality for free.
“Juventus are doing great things, they are the symbol of Italian football in the world because of their squad. Inter are also doing well, they have a great Coach in Antonio Conte and are pushing hard.
“Other teams are trying, but they are not at the same level as Juventus. Inter are a little bit further behind.”
Napoli are fourth in the Serie A table, already six points off the top.
“I have good rapport with Carlo Ancelotti, as he is both a great Coach and a great person. I was fortunate to know the man first and then to work with him.
“I’m sorry that only lasted a year, as I wanted to be with him for longer, because that was a wonderful period of my career and, I believe, for him too.”
Messi has expressed his fear over Neymar’s transfer in the summer that he believed Florentino and Madrid were going to do something to take Neymar away.
Asked about Neymar and Barca’s interest in signing him, Messi showed his great fear of the summer: “I honestly thought at a moment, especially in this market, that if he didn’t come here he would go to Madrid because I thought he wanted to leave.”
“He had said it, he wanted to change, to leave Paris. And I thought Florentino and Madrid were going to do something to take him away.”
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