Koke has opened the doors to James Rodriguez switching Real Madrid for Atletico Madrid this summer: “He would be welcome.”
The Colombian playmaker has been heavily linked with a permanent exit from Los Blancos this summer with both Napoli and Atleti said to be the leading candidates.
“He is a Madrid player, but he is a great player and we don't know what will happen, but if he comes, he is welcome and if I do not wish him luck in the team where he is,” Koke said, as cited by El Mundo Deportivo.
“We have a lot of new players, but they all have great enthusiasm and eagerness. That change has also been good for us, I wish it would have taken a little longer because there are people who miss each other.
“But there are cycles in football just as in life and it seems that we are reinventing ourselves well. Atletico Madrid and the team are, in the end, above any player.
“Joao Felix is a great footballer with whom you have to be patient and above all not put that pressure on him.”
James has returned to Madrid following a two-year loan spell at the Bavarian club having started just 13 Bundesliga matches this campaign and is said to want more regular first-team football.
The former Porto and Monaco star spent three seasons at Los Blancos, helping them to two European titles, but started just 13 La Liga games in his final campaign.
Napoli boss Carlo Ancelotti brought James from Monaco to the Spanish capital back in 2014 and worked with him again during his time with Bundesliga giants Bayern.
