James Rodriguez: Too early to write him off as a €80 million flop!!!

Three points from the first three games. The new season has just started and it is okay to drop a few points as you try to integrate your new signings into the squad. However when you are Real Madrid, where expectations are always sky high and when your most hated rival have 9 points from the same number of matches, then this becomes absolutely unacceptable. Real have really struggled this season and last night’s defeat at home to their city rivals Atletico Madrid has increased the pressure on Carlo Ancelotti and his players. But one player who is bound to feel more pressure than anybody else would be the €80 million new signing James Rodriguez, who has been unable to impose himself in the Real shirt until now.

The highest goalscorer at the 2014 World Cup is yet to make much of an impact at Real Madrid, and his struggles continued last night against Atletico. The Colombian has played 6 games this season for Real Madrid but he has not been able to replicate his brilliant form in the World Cup in any of the 6 matches.

Although his passing has been generally accurate, he has looked nervous at times and has not been able to get into good goal-scoring positions nor has been creating enough chances for his team-mates. He is also unable to find the necessary space on the pitch in which to weave his magic.

Granted, this Real Madrid side is a work in progress, yet Real Madrid do not have the luxury to take their time to settle down. Sure, it would be unfair to judge a player after only six games and but the weight of expectations are so high that he has to deliver from the first minute to escape the scorn of the supporters and the media.

The supporters of Real Madrid are an impatient bunch and the longer Rodriguez takes to settle down, the more difficult it would be for him to remove the mounting pressure. And unless he makes an impression at his new club soon, the €80 million Madrid spent on him will continue to look excessive.