James Rodriguez will return to Real Madrid... but he'll move on again Transfer market Bayern won't sign him and Zidane doesn't want him

Barring an unexpected turn of events in the coming weeks, James Rodriguez will be a Real Madrid player again on 15 June, which is when Bayern Munich's option to purchase the player will expire.

The Bavarians have decided to let the Colombian move on after two seasons on loan rather than buy him outright as his relationship with coach Niko Kovac is seen as irreparable.

A number of people high up at the German club want James to remain, but the Croatian coach has been far from pleased with the player since he made it clear last summer that he wanted to leave Germany to return to Madrid.

Julen Lopetegui asked him to return, and Kovac was unhappy at how the player was eager to make the move back to Spain.

James signed for Madrid in the summer of 2014 for 80 million euros, but his return this summer will only be a temporary step before moving on again.

Zinedine Zidane isn't counting on him, and he left the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu because it was the Frenchman who saw no use for him in 2017.

With his contract running until 2021, Madrid will listen to any offers that come their way. James would be happy with a more secondary role should he return, but Zidane has made it clear that there's no place for him in the squad.

It was assumed that Bayern would buy him but despite his performances not being bad, things haven't gone to plan, leaving his future up in the air again.