James Rodríguez to Minnesota and the makings of an MLS shocker

James Rodríguez’s MLS arrival was not supposed to play out like this. The Colombian international has long been a coveted signing for the league. His global notoriety, those film star looks, his talented left foot and propensity to shine on the biggest stages, all added up to point toward one of MLS’ highest-profile markets.

It was not supposed to be Minnesota.

When his playing time at Real Madrid began to gradually decline, beginning with the 2016 arrival of Zinedine Zidane as manager, MLS was talked about as a possible destination for the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner.

South Florida seemed like the ideal location. The massive Colombian and Latino population would merge seamlessly with Rodríguez’s sought-after marketability. Before the arrival of Lionel Messi, Inter Miami was a fledgling expansion side without a big name. David Beckham, with his many Real Madrid connections, reportedly courted Rodríguez during Inter Miami’s inaugural 2020 season.

Rodríguez had one foot out the door in the Spanish capital. Beckham usually closes a deal of that nature, but Rodríguez eventually signed with Everton, where he spent a short spell of mixed fortune.

So, if not Miami, then surely Los Angeles would suit the Colombian’s profile. Some of MLS’ most memorable international stars have played for the LA Galaxy, the six-time MLS Cup champions.

Had he landed in L.A., Rodríguez would have followed in the footsteps of Beckham, Robbie Keane, Zlatan Ibrahimović and Javier “Chicharito” Hernández. Alternatively, the Galaxy’s neighbors, LAFC, might at some point have found a way to dress the Colombian in black and gold. In its eight years as an MLS club, LAFC has not only become a perennial championship contender, but also a glamor team in the region.

There was even a blueprint already in place at LAFC for a player who prioritized his fitness before a World Cup — Gareth Bale, ahead of the 2022 tournament in Qatar. West Coast vibes and the bright lights of Hollywood would seem like the perfect backdrop for a multi-million dollar player like Rodríguez, who relishes the big stage.

Instead, Rodríguez, now 34, will suit up in a cold-weather city in the Midwest. It’s as unexpected a landing spot as you could imagine. But, after years of “maybe one day,” he’ll finally play professionally in the U.S., finalizing a deal to become Minnesota United’s marquee signing.

It’s a move years in the making, even if it appears to have materialized rather suddenly. In 2022 on his personal Twitch channel, Rodríguez told his followers MLS was on his radar, but that a return to European football remained his priority. At the time, he was playing professionally in Qatar and he felt that he still had the quality to shine in Europe. MLS, he said, was “still a long way off.”

That time has now come, but finding a suitor was not easy. The Columbus Crew, Toronto FC, Orlando City and Austin FC were among the many clubs rumored to be considering Rodríguez for the 2026 season. But those rumors were false, sources at various clubs say. Meanwhile, reported interest from clubs in Argentina and Ecuador fizzled quickly.

On Tuesday, talks between Rodríguez’s camp and Minnesota reached an advanced stage, according to sources with knowledge of the negotiations. Both parties discussed the makings of a short-term deal that would secure Rodríguez’s future in MLS until the World Cup. There is a contract option post-World Cup that Rodríguez and the club can exercise, said one league source.

Once a lock to be a high-profile designated player, Rodríguez will instead become a budget-friendly addition to the 2026 Minnesota United squad. On Thursday, Rodríguez boarded a plane in Miami and flew to Minnesota as contract details were finalized, sources briefed on the situation told The Athletic. But discussions were already in the works regarding Rodríguez’s grand unveiling.

Sources said that Rodríguez, as part of his introduction to the city, will sit courtside at Friday’s NBA regular-season game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Target Center in downtown Minneapolis. Rodríguez is an avid NBA fan.

Intrigue league-wide and abroad in Rodríguez’s time will give Minnesota a boost, both in attention and likely jersey sales. On the field, Rodríguez is still a highly dangerous player when on the ball. He can switch fields effortlessly and find teammates with pinpoint passes.

Former Real Madrid teammates James Rodríguez and Sergio Ramos vie for the ball in a Liga MX match last year (Leopoldo Smith / Getty Images)

With Club León, Rodríguez wore the captain’s armband and took ownership of the ball throughout the pitch. He finished his year-long loan with five goals and nine assists. Rodríguez, however, is not a natural fit to what made the Loons successful in 2025.

Minnesota was dead last in average possession (39%) and routinely defended deep in a structured block with all 11 players contributing. The club’s attack had a reliance on set pieces, an area where Rodríguez’s exquisite delivery will fit seamlessly, but against the ball there are major questions.

The Loons want to use the ball more under new head coach Cam Knowles, but also press a bit higher up the pitch. Will Rodríguez be able to keep up? One technical staffer at another club told The Athletic that his data team ran the physical metrics on Rodríguez and he made one of that team’s slowest players “look like N’Golo Kanté,” referring to one of this generation’s best defensive midfielders, known for his elite ability to cover ground and win the ball back.

But on a short-term and non-DP deal, Rodríguez comes with minimal risk. It’ll be a win-win if both Minnesota United and Rodríguez understand each other’s primary objectives. Minnesota wants to maximize the Colombian’s quality. Rodríguez wants to use the next four months to prepare for the World Cup.

Despite the frigid temperatures in Minneapolis, the city and its surrounding areas have a small but active Colombian population that includes authentic bakeries and restaurants that must be anxiously awaiting Rodríguez’s arrival. The Latino population in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul metropolitan area is a fast-growing demographic, as well.

James Rodríguez has previously stated his discomfort while playing in the cold as a member of Bayern Munich (Christof Stache / AFP / Getty Images)

Rodríguez, famously, is not a fan of the cold weather. In 2020, following a spell at Bayern Munich, he said on Daniel Habif’s podcast that living in the German capital, particularly during the winter months was “was very difficult for me.”

“Living there isn’t easy,” Rodríguez said. “It’s tough because of the cold, which was very hard for me. There were days when I would go to work at 9 in the morning, start my car, and look at the temperature: -28 (Celsius). I would ask myself, ‘What am I doing here in this cold?’”

He may find himself asking that same question sooner than later.

Minnesota United has a short history of signing Colombian players, though. Ángelo Rodríguez and Ménder García, both strikers, each played a total of 39 games and combined for just 12 goals. Playmaker Darwin Quintero, meanwhile, played 64 games and scored 27 goals and added 20 assists across two seasons with the Loons.

The current squad features two Colombian players in defender Jefferson Díaz, 25, and forward Mauricio González, 21. On Thursday, Díaz told Colombian radio program El Parche del Fútbol that the thought of playing alongside Rodríguez “changed my headspace.”

“It would be amazing to share a locker room with my idol,” Díaz said. “There’s a lot of anticipation. My teammates are asking about him, and the city is going crazy.”

It may not be Miami or L.A., and it may only be for a short time in the most unassuming of locales, but the James Rodríguez experience will play out in MLS after all.