Former Everton playmaker James Rodriguez has reignited his feud with former Blues boss Rafael Benitez after the Spanish tactician ended his time on Merseyside.
In 2021, the Colombian international completed a move to Qatari side Al Rayyan for an undisclosed fee. It brought to an end a year of service for the Blues with the former Real Madrid midfielder's appearances at Goodison Park falling during the COVID season.
Rodriguez was a part of Carlo Ancelotti's side who claimed their first win at Anfield since 1999 but following the introduction of Benitez, his time with Everton slowly came to an end.
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"When he arrived at Everton on the first day, he told me, ‘Go away. You are 30 years old and I want young people, who have energy’" he told Noticias RCN via Sport Witness. "I had had a spectacular year with Everton, so I wasn’t going to start fighting with him."
It isn't the first time that the 31-year-old has spoken ill of the former Everton manager. In January, he revealed: "I was at Everton for a year but I would have liked it to be longer. It went well, very well, I’m leaving due to a coach, because if not, I would stay.
"The coach (Benitez) told me on the first day of pre-season, ‘you are old, you are already 30 years old, I prefer to have young people, with energy. So, find yourself a club’. I told a leader, after three months he will be out, I have already worked with him.
"I told him after three months look for me and after three months he (Benítez) was already out. Then came Lampard, he has won some games and has managed to save the club."
Since leaving Everton, Rodriguez spent time in the Qatari league before switching to Greek giants Olympiacos but he has been a free agent since being released in April.
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