Last week, Junior de Barranquilla fans were hopeful about the rumored arrival of Colombian national team captain James Rodríguez as the talented midfielder was given the opportunity to play in La Liga BetPlay after his departure from Rayo Vallecano.
(See also: Was this an attack on Junior’s fans? James’ mother defends him against criticism)
In fact, the management of the ‘Tiburón’ team made a great effort to present the best possible offer to Rodríguez. However, those hopes evaporated when Fuad Char, the club’s majority shareholder, confirmed that the deal had fallen through due to another proposal that far exceeded their offers, even doubling them.
Since then, the Colombian player has faced criticism again. Although it was very likely that he would not sign with Junior, the manner in which he rejected the offer was perceived as less than cordial, causing significant discontent among fans.
Alberto Linero’s criticism of James Rodríguez
One person who has not hidden his dissatisfaction with the situation is Alberto Linero, an analyst at Blu Radio. In the show ‘Mañanas Blu’, he indicated that Rodríguez’s presence in Barranquilla for the next matches of the Colombian national team would be more complicated, with fans not hesitating to express their dissatisfaction.
“The recent failed negotiation between Colombian footballer James Rodríguez and Junior de Barranquilla leaves me personally with many lessons, especially about the importance of conduct in any human interaction. I find it natural that a worker looks for a place where he can earn more , because it depends on one’s livelihood. However, it is essential to be clear and transparent to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings with those on the other side,” Linero explained.
He added: “James can say he doesn’t want to go there and play or it’s not the right time, but he always has to do it with respect and empathy for the other party.”
Furthermore, he asserted that the manner in which interactions are conducted is paramount, as it forms the basis of good communication and effective negotiation. Treating others well is crucial to building positive relationships.
Indeed, Linero commented that this approach could affect Rodríguez in the Colombian national team’s upcoming matches, with Junior fans not happy with the way the situation unfolded and likely to express this feeling during the next World Cup qualifiers.
“Consider how James will be received in Barranquilla, given the feelings of Junior’s fans…As a friend of mine says, the manner of an interaction ends up becoming its substance,” he concluded.
(See also: Alejandro Char took a dig at James Rodríguez during the presentation of the Barranquilla Carnival)
Where will James Rodríguez play?
Now, with the deal to join Junior out of the question, it seems likely that the Colombian midfielder is heading to Mexican football, as León reported to have moved forward in discussions, with only a few details remaining to be ironed out before the transfer becomes official.
