The president of Rayo Vallecano, Martín Presa, is thrilled with his team’s recent signing of Colombia star James Rodríguez on a free transfer. He even went so far as to compare the move to Diego Maradona’s arrival at Napoli in 1984. Presa expressed his excitement during an interview on the El Partidazo de COPE radio show, stating that Radamel Falcao, another Colombian player, played a crucial role in facilitating Rodríguez’s unexpected transfer to the Madrid club. “We are a humble but ambitious team, like Napoli when they signed Maradona. Since then nothing like this had been achieved,” Presa proudly proclaimed.
Despite the hype surrounding Rodríguez’s arrival, Presa clarified that the forward would not be rushed into action immediately. Having last played in the final of the Copa América on July 14 in Miami, Rodríguez deserves some rest before hitting the field for Rayo Vallecano. “Five weeks have passed since he played in the Copa América final and he’s been on holiday; we’re not going to risk his season by risking one game,” Presa emphasized. He likened Rodríguez to a Formula 1 driver who needs to be handled carefully in order to last the entire season.
Rayo Vallecano are reportedly considering the signing of Memphis Depay as a free agent to complement James Rodríguez in the upcoming season. While Depay’s team initially dismissed the rumors linking him to Rayo as mere speculation, a source from the Madrid club confirmed that they are exploring the option. The potential acquisition of Depay would add to the celebratory mood for Rayo Vallecano as the club gears up to commemorate its 100 years of history. However, the financial aspect of the deal poses a challenge, and it may only materialize if Raul de Tomás departs from the club first.
As Rayo Vallecano prepares for their upcoming match against Barcelona, all eyes will be on the field to see if newly signed Dani Olmo will make an appearance. Barcelona’s recent signing, Dani Olmo, is expected to feature in the match following an injury to Andreas Christensen that allowed them to register the former RB Leipzig star. The clash between Rayo Vallecano and Barcelona promises to be an exciting one, especially with the potential debut of star players like James Rodríguez and Dani Olmo.