James Rodriguez's patience is running out as he lines up England move

"Sometimes you don't always get what you want, but you have to be calm and I have seven days to think things over. If you want to play more you have to think it over and look at your options." James Rodriguez's words after the Club World Cup sounded for many like a goodbye. Or at least like an invitation for the club to look for an exit for him.

James' situation has not been comfortable since Ancelotti left. With the Italian in charge, the Colombian was at his best in Madrid.  

Not even his elevated cost (Madrid paid 80 million euros to Monaco for the player) allowed him to become a key player, though, able to make a difference and become one of the stars of Madrid.

James finished the 2014-15 season with 17 goals and 18 assists and a big role in the team: more than 2,000 minutes in the League and 705 in the Champions League. His protagonism diminished the following season (1515 minutes in League) although he continued being an important player (8 assists, 8 goals).

THE RAFA ARRIVAL

The Colombian began to lose prominence under Benitez. "James has my support and my full confidence, but this is Madrid, the competitiveness between players is the maximum," said the coach after replacing the Colombian against Eibar and causing great discomfort for the player.

The arrival of Zidane did not contribute to an improvement in James' situation. In recent months he has seen, at time, rotation players like Isco, Lucas Vázquez and even Asensio move ahead of him in the pecking order.

This season James' role is not sustainable for a footballer who cost 80 million. His numbers in relation to the minutes that he plays are more than sufficient (8 assists and 2 goals), although his protagonism is reduced: 377 minutes in Liga; 235 in Champions; 180 in the Copa del Rey.

The French coach has always followed the same line: he is happy with James' performances, but "the rest are doing well, too."

It's an ambiguous answer that does not make James happy. The Colombian could be close to the Premier League (Chelsea is a possible destination) where he hopes to feel like a key player again.

In Madrid that is not the case his patience is running out.