FootyChatter.com

The Colombian icon joined the MLS side in a short-term deal with an eye toward fitness for the 2026 World Cup Two weeks ago, few could’ve expected that the most notable international acquisition of the MLS offseason would be made by Minnesota United. The team’s marquee import until last week was Finland striker Teemu Pukki, with honorable mentions for Colombian playmaker Darwin Quintero and ex-Porto midfielder Ibson. The Loons aren’t known for paying sizable transfer fees, and their wage bill last year was the league’s fifth-smallest. This year, they also had to contend with Occupation Metro Surge. The siege-like deployment of over 3, 000 federal immigration agents into the state of Minnesota is now due to end, but only after three harrowing months for residents throughout the Minneapolis/Saint Paul metro area and beyond. The occupation caused two confirmed deaths, with Renee Good and Alex Pretti slain by ICE agents. Nonetheless, Minnesota United have managed to recruit one of this generation’s biggest stars, Colombia playmaker James Rodríguez. “I’ve been in top leagues, but I wanted to play in this league, ” Rodríguez said in his introduction at Allianz Field. “When the chance arose with this great club, things were progressing a bit slowly, but it happened. Both sides made an effort, and when a club trusts you, you have to give it your all so everyone feels good. That’s why I’m here, to help and hopefully win things. ” Rodríguez arrives nearly half a decade removed from his Everton tenure which proved to be his final stop as the centerpiece of a major European club. His path from the Premier League to MLS makes for good pub trivia: Al-Rayyan, Olympiacos, São Paulo, Rayo Vallecano, Club León. One would be forgiven for struggling to picture him in most of those clubs’ shirts, as Rodríguez’s legacy continues to be most directly associated with his exploits for Colombia. He’s readying for his fourth World Cup, having captained his country to its best showing in Conmebol qualification since 2014 after being named player of the tournament at the 2024 Copa América. A free agent since New Year’s, he needed a club with which he could prepare for this summer’s tournament. Having secured the player’s discovery rights in the fall, Minnesota chief soccer officer Khaled El-Ahmad saw a “unique opportunity” to boost the entire squad, calling MLS “the best league to be in at this time when you’re preparing for the World Cup. ” There’s some historical backing for that claim. Gareth Bale was similarly driven to train in world-class facilities ahead of the 2022 World Cup, latching onto Los Angeles FC for half a season, while Brazil goalkeeper Júlio César signed a short-term deal with Toronto FC before the 2014 World Cup. “How does a player of that caliber and that history prepare? ” El-Ahmad told the Guardian before Friday’s press conference. “What energy would that bring to our culture as we’re trying to get younger, adding him to our collective? Adding that dimension, I believe, will evolve the group. ” El-Ahmad quickly summarizes Rodríguez’s priorities and how the club meets them. He wanted a team that performs well; Minnesota expects to maintain its competitive standard, having missed just one postseason since 2019. He wanted a top physio department; Minnesota was honored as MLS medical staff of the year in 2025. He wanted calmness away from the field; “we have the best fans, but they don’t show up at your house or hotel, ” El-Ahmad assures with history backing him up. He has a big interest in the NBA; managing partner Dr. Bill Mc Guire has courtside seats for the Timberwolves. And then there’s the club culture, which El-Ahmad hopes he has refined since being appointed in November 2023, having previously been a scout for City Football Group and the CEO of Barnsley. “If this was 2024 or maybe even 2025, I’m not sure we would be ready as a club for that potential addition to our culture, ” El-Ahmad said. “I’m so confident in the coaching staff now, in the club itself, that we’ve been evolving over the last 24 months heading into year three. I’m very comfortable with the core group of players, that (Rodríguez) is an exciting cherry on the top. “[The acquisition] is not to change the culture. It’s to evolve the group. ” If there’s a recent MLS comparison, Thomas Müller’s arrival in Vancouver last summer feels apt. It worked out for the Whitecaps, with the German bolstering a strong side as they reached their first MLS Cup final. El-Ahmad confirmed that despite his profile, Rodríguez won’t take up one of the club’s limited designated player (DP) spots even if the club picks up his option for the back half of 2026. He also won’t disrupt head coach Cameron Knowles’ playing time plans more than any other new signing would. “Our culture doesn’t guarantee starts for any player, ” El-Ahmad said. “It’s a conversation about workload. Will this one be more delicate? Of course. There’s no way not to have the delicate conversation, but it’s also delicate with our captain, Michael Boxall. Does he recover more? Does he need an extra rest? Because Boxall is going through the same thing: he’s gonna go into the World Cup. It’s the same thing with [Panama defender] Carlos Harvey. What does that mean the week before they go into the international camp in March? ” It’s a collectivist tone that seems welcome for Rodríguez, who becomes the first Loon to don the 10 shirt since Emanuel Reynoso in 2023. “From what I’ve seen, this is a club that has done things the right way, ” Rodríguez said. “I’ve come to an established club, and now I’m just another member of the club and the team as well. I’m eager, passionate, and ready to be a part of the club, and I hope to do things right. ” As for questions of how bought into the club Rodríguez will be following the World Cup, El-Ahmad cited “good, transparent conversation” as the two sides settled on the contract’s structure. After consulting his locker room leaders for input, El-Ahmad was confident reasonable risks were being avoided. “Again, it’s a club option, ” El-Ahmad said. “He’s talking about, OK, so how are we going to make this a longer deal? It’s all going to come down to how we align our interests and performance, what impact (he makes), if he likes it. There’s a lot of assumptions and unknowns, but we are really starting out from a very positive place. ” The positivity in tandem with the welcome news of ICE’s impending withdrawal from Minnesota – some sorely needed silver linings. “I think there’s no way around it: it’s been very mentally tough, ” El-Ahmad said of life under Operation Metro Surge. “Standing in front of the players, asking a certain group of the players to take care of the other group of the players, creating specific Whats App groups to support certain groups within the club. ” Minnesota United never made a public statement regarding the occupation – perhaps understandable given the Trump administration’s culture of retribution, but still a decision questioned by some fans. Local businesses and citizens saw hastily written warrants mere hours after speaking out against ICE or recording their actions, feeling it’s a tactic of retaliation. One of the few public comments addressing the situation was made by Joaquin Pereyra and Michael Boxall, speaking to the St Paul Pioneer Press in January. Both were critical of the operation and leadership at all levels, with Pereyra adding that he carries his Argentine passport and green card with him whenever he leaves home. “I empathize with Joaquin, ” said El-Ahmad who was born in Lebanon before his family moved to Sweden when he was young. “I also drive around with my passport and green card. My kids have an extra note in their bag, just in case mom and dad don’t come home, which, in its instance, is something that brings back childhood memories of me being a war refugee. It’s not a pleasant thing to carry. “At the same time, I’m really, really proud of the players and the staff and how we’ve really managed it. It’s not easy when you’re preparing for a season, and then you see the pictures in our community that are not normal and they should not be happening. It’s not even about political views. For me, it’s about human values and human decisions and what is right and what is wrong. With the things I’ve seen, I empathize and stand behind the community. We see a lot of wrong things being done. ” In the interim, the team is far from home at the Coachella Valley Invitational, a California preseason event involving Minnesota and 11 other MLS sides. The Loons won their first tune-up match two days after unveiling Rodríguez, notching a 3-0 win over Sporting Kansas City. Rodríguez didn’t participate and won’t join future training sessions until he obtains his work visa – another aspect of the signing impossibly linked to the Trump administration. The Pioneer Press also reported that at least two potential international signings decided not to join Minnesota in light of ICE’s occupation. Given the tension between Trump and Colombia president Gustavo Petro, it was another item El-Ahmad discussed with Rodríguez’s representatives. “I think it’s different with James because of the profile he has, ” El-Ahmad said. “He feels more comfortable about his situation compared to some other recruits that we tried to sign. His representatives asked about what’s going on since he’s obviously Colombian. I don’t want to make this political, but it’s not easy. We’re still waiting for the visa for Mauricio Gonzalez, who we signed like a month ago. ” In a turbulent time for Minnesota, its MLS team now rosters one of the sport’s most famous active players. Rodríguez is determined to impress, both to round out his World Cup preparations and make the most of his move to the North American league. In a deal with little risk involved for the club, his arrival is a surprising but welcome development in an offseason like no other. “This is the right place for him because of the community, ” El-Ahmad said, “how we stand up to each other, the fans, the group of players that we have. He will be a good addition here, and they are a good addition to where he is (in his career). Hopefully, we can manage it as we move forward for what everyone hopes is a positive outcome. ”