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Topics: Colombia, James Rodriguez, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Everton, Football, Champions League
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Colombia, James Rodriguez, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Everton, Football, Champions League
James Rodriguez has risked the wrath of Real Madrid and Everton supporters after backing Liverpool to win the Champions League this season.
Liverpool will come up against Madrid in the final at the Stade de France in Paris on May 28.
It is a repeat of the 2018 final in Kyiv, when Gareth Bale scored twice to seal a 3-1 win for the Spanish club.
Despite spending six years at Madrid earlier in his career, Rodriguez says he wants Liverpool to win this season's final for his Colombia international teammate, Luis Diaz.
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"I want Liverpool to be champion," said Rodriguez, as reported by Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra.
"I have many friends in Real Madrid and it is a difficult team for this type of match, but I want Lucho (Diaz) to win."
Rodriguez reportedly helped convince Diaz to join Liverpool in a £37m move from Porto in January.
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Tottenham were initially favourites to sign Diaz before he opted for a move to Anfield.
The Mirror claim Diaz spoke to both Rodriguez and former Manchester United and Chelsea striker Radamel Falcao, who advised him to join Liverpool.
Diaz has impressed since arriving on Merseyside, scoring five goals and providing four assists in 22 games for the Reds.
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Rodriguez's latest comments are unlikely to go down well at Madrid, who he scored 37 goals in 125 appearances for between 2014 and 2020.
He is also set to anger fans of Everton, who he joined on a free transfer after leaving the Bernabeu.
Rodriguez quickly became a fan favourite at Goodison Park but would spend just one season with the Toffees, scoring six goals in 26 appearances, before leaving for Qatari club Al Rayyan in September after being frozen out by former Everton manager Rafael Benitez.