I gained two Champions Leagues earlier than Benitez advised me to 'go away' as a result of I used to be 30

RAFAEL Benitez advised a two-time Champions League winner to “go away” as a result of he was 30 after changing into Everton supervisor.

The previous Liverpool supervisor endured a troublesome six-month spell in cost at Goodison Park after changing Carlo Ancelotti in 2021.

His hyperlinks to the Toffees’ cross-city rivals angered many Everton followers, with some members of the squad additionally falling out with Benitez.

One such participant was midfielder James Rodriguez, who had beforehand performed underneath Benitez at Actual Madrid.

Nonetheless, the Colombian did not make an look for Everton after Benitez’s arrival and he was offered simply two months later.

Rodriguez had been signed by Ancelotti in September 2020 and supplied 15 objective contributions in 26 appearances in his first season.

These numbers didn’t assist his possibilities of starring for Benitez, although, with the Spaniard taking exception with Rodriguez’s age.

“When he arrived at Everton on the primary day, he advised me, ‘Go away. You are 30 years old and I want young people, who have energy’,” Rodriguez advised Noticias RCN through Sport Witness.

“I had had a spectacular year with Everton, so I wasn’t going to start fighting with him.”

It’s not the primary time Rodriguez, who gained the Champions League twice with Actual Madrid, has hit out at his former boss.

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Again in January, he revealed: “I used to be at Everton for a yr however I’d have favored it to be longer. It went properly, very properly, I’m leaving on account of a coach, as a result of if not, I’d keep.

“The coach (Benitez) advised me on the primary day of pre-season, ‘you are old, you are already 30 years old, I prefer to have young people, with energy. So, find yourself a club’.

“I advised a frontrunner, after three months he will likely be out, I’ve already labored with him.

“I told him after three months look for me and after three months he (Benítez) was already out. Then came Lampard, he has won some games and has managed to save the club.”

Now 31, Rodriguez has since performed for Al-Rayyan in Qatar and Olympiacos.

He’s at present a free agent after being launched by the Greek giants in April.