Real Madrid have officially unveiled new £60million signing James Rodriguez after they completed the transfer of the World Cup Golden Boot winner from Monaco on Tuesday.
►Rodriguez signed for Real Madrid for £60million
►He has agreed a six-year deal worth £110,000-a-week
►He has agreed a six-year deal worth £110,000-a-week
The Colombia international has agreed a six-year contract with Madrid and underwent his medical with the club on Tuesday morning before being displayed in front of a crowd at the Santiago Bernabau.
James Rodriguez unveiled as Real Madrid player on six-year deal as World Cup Golden Boot winner completes £60m move to become fourth most-expensive transfer ever.
Madrid president Florentino Perez welcomed the forward andcompared him to the late legend of the club, Alfredo Di Stefano who also came to the club from Colombia.
'Colombia will be at your side,' said Perez, which raised a cheer from the fans in the stadium.
Rodriguez said: 'I hope to win many titles here, Hala Madrid,' invoking the club's chant.
An overly-zealous Colombian fan ran on to the pitch to hug Rodriguez and he was restrained by security personnel.
Neither club have confirmed the fee for the 23-year-old, but reports suggest Madrid have paid about £60million, which would make Rodriguez the fourth most expensive transfer of all time after Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.
A Real Madrid statement read: 'Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Monaco for the transfer of James Rodriguez, who will join the club for the next six seasons.
'The player will be presented today, Tuesday 22 July, at 20:00 (Spanish time), in the Santiago Bernabeu's presidential box.
'Following that, James Rodriguez will take his first steps on the Santiago Bernabeu's pitch wearing the Real Madrid shirt and will attend the media in the press room.'
Rodriguez was one of the revelations of the World Cup, scoring in each of Colombia's games as they reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the very first time, eventually losing 2-1 to hosts Brazil.
In total Rodriguez scored six goals at the World Cup to finish as the leading scorer - one clear of Thomas Muller - while his stunning 25-yard volley against Uruguay was voted goal of the tournament on FIFA.com.
His signing comes less than a week after Madrid brought in another of the World Cup's star performers in Germany's Toni Kroos, who moved from Bayern Munich for a reported £24m.
It also means that, if the reported figure is correct, Madrid now boast three of the four most expensive signings in history, having spent a world-record £80m on Bale last summer and the same on Ronaldo in 2009.
The Champions League winners would hold a clean sweep of the top three signings but for arch-rivals Barcelona, who splashed out a reported £75m on Liverpool striker Luis Suarez earlier this summer.
Rodriguez began his professional career with Colombian side Envigado before moving down to Argentinian club Banfield aged 17.
His performances for the Buenos Aires outfit attracted the attention of Porto, who signed him for £4m in 2010, and three years later he joined Monaco for £38.5m after helping the Portuguese side win a hat-trick of league titles and the 2011 Europa League.
The left-footed forward scored 10 goals in 38 matches in all competitions for Monaco last term as they finished second in Ligue 1 behind Paris St Germain.
Big-spending Monaco said they had not been looking to sell Rodriguez but described the deal as 'one of the most significant transfers in football history'.
Monaco vice-president and CEO Vadim Vasilyev said: 'AS Monaco is proud to have helped James Rodriguez reveal his talent to the world as he notably made his mark on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil winning the Golden Boot. James is a fantastic player who achieved great things with AS Monaco.'
A statement on www.asm-fc.com read: 'The club would like to take the opportunity to thank James for the role he played in getting the club back to the Champions League and wishes him the very best for the future.
'The club had no intention to sell the player, however the time came when the solution of a transfer was considered to be the most beneficial solution for all parties.
'Monaco is proud to be a party to one of the most significant transfers in football history.
'Monaco is a club that will continue to grow and remains focused on the future. More than ever it has the ambition to strengthen the team and continue to progress for next season.'
Rodriguez is determined to make history at Real Madrid rather than crumble under the pressure of becoming the fourth most expensive player of all time.
Rodriguez : 'The numbers mean nothing to me. I just want to help make history and bring joy to the Madrid fans.
'This is a club which is used to winning and I'm prepared mentally and physically to do so. It is a pleasure to be among so many stars and I'm sure I'll learn a lot from everyone.'
'I've suffered a lot to get here and when you do that then it tastes so much better.
'I will never forget this day. I hope to work hard, to train well, and to experience a lot of joy here.
'I know I am under a lot of pressure, but I am happy to face it.'
Madrid president Florentino Perez welcomed the forward andcompared him to the late legend of the club, Alfredo Di Stefano who also came to the club from Colombia.
'Colombia will be at your side,' said Perez, which raised a cheer from the fans in the stadium.
Rodriguez said: 'I hope to win many titles here, Hala Madrid,' invoking the club's chant.
An overly-zealous Colombian fan ran on to the pitch to hug Rodriguez and he was restrained by security personnel.
Neither club have confirmed the fee for the 23-year-old, but reports suggest Madrid have paid about £60million, which would make Rodriguez the fourth most expensive transfer of all time after Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.
A Real Madrid statement read: 'Real Madrid have reached an agreement with Monaco for the transfer of James Rodriguez, who will join the club for the next six seasons.
'The player will be presented today, Tuesday 22 July, at 20:00 (Spanish time), in the Santiago Bernabeu's presidential box.
'Following that, James Rodriguez will take his first steps on the Santiago Bernabeu's pitch wearing the Real Madrid shirt and will attend the media in the press room.'
Rodriguez was one of the revelations of the World Cup, scoring in each of Colombia's games as they reached the quarter-finals of the competition for the very first time, eventually losing 2-1 to hosts Brazil.
In total Rodriguez scored six goals at the World Cup to finish as the leading scorer - one clear of Thomas Muller - while his stunning 25-yard volley against Uruguay was voted goal of the tournament on FIFA.com.
His signing comes less than a week after Madrid brought in another of the World Cup's star performers in Germany's Toni Kroos, who moved from Bayern Munich for a reported £24m.
It also means that, if the reported figure is correct, Madrid now boast three of the four most expensive signings in history, having spent a world-record £80m on Bale last summer and the same on Ronaldo in 2009.
The Champions League winners would hold a clean sweep of the top three signings but for arch-rivals Barcelona, who splashed out a reported £75m on Liverpool striker Luis Suarez earlier this summer.
Rodriguez began his professional career with Colombian side Envigado before moving down to Argentinian club Banfield aged 17.
His performances for the Buenos Aires outfit attracted the attention of Porto, who signed him for £4m in 2010, and three years later he joined Monaco for £38.5m after helping the Portuguese side win a hat-trick of league titles and the 2011 Europa League.
The left-footed forward scored 10 goals in 38 matches in all competitions for Monaco last term as they finished second in Ligue 1 behind Paris St Germain.
Big-spending Monaco said they had not been looking to sell Rodriguez but described the deal as 'one of the most significant transfers in football history'.
Monaco vice-president and CEO Vadim Vasilyev said: 'AS Monaco is proud to have helped James Rodriguez reveal his talent to the world as he notably made his mark on the 2014 World Cup in Brazil winning the Golden Boot. James is a fantastic player who achieved great things with AS Monaco.'
A statement on www.asm-fc.com read: 'The club would like to take the opportunity to thank James for the role he played in getting the club back to the Champions League and wishes him the very best for the future.
'The club had no intention to sell the player, however the time came when the solution of a transfer was considered to be the most beneficial solution for all parties.
'Monaco is proud to be a party to one of the most significant transfers in football history.
'Monaco is a club that will continue to grow and remains focused on the future. More than ever it has the ambition to strengthen the team and continue to progress for next season.'
Rodriguez is determined to make history at Real Madrid rather than crumble under the pressure of becoming the fourth most expensive player of all time.
Rodriguez : 'The numbers mean nothing to me. I just want to help make history and bring joy to the Madrid fans.
'This is a club which is used to winning and I'm prepared mentally and physically to do so. It is a pleasure to be among so many stars and I'm sure I'll learn a lot from everyone.'
'I've suffered a lot to get here and when you do that then it tastes so much better.
'I will never forget this day. I hope to work hard, to train well, and to experience a lot of joy here.
'I know I am under a lot of pressure, but I am happy to face it.'
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