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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Charlotte Coates

James Rodriguez explains why he wants Liverpool to beat Real Madrid in Champions League final

James Rodriguez has potentially raised eyebrows by turning his back on two of his former clubs by admitting he wants Liverpool to beat Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris. The attacking midfielder left Everton for Qatar side Al Rayyan in 2021.

The two European giants go head-to-head on Saturday, May 28 at the Stade de France to battle it out for the biggest prize in football as Liverpool look to lift number seven in what is their third final in five years.

After impressing at the 2014 World Cup, James sealed a dream move to Real Madrid where he made 85 appearances before moving to Goodison Park with Carlo Ancelotti for a season.

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However, Rodriguez is backing Liverpool to win the Champions League in Paris - because of his Colombian teammate Luis Diaz.

He explained: "I want Liverpool to be champion. 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."

Diaz has six goals and three assists for the Reds since making the £37.5 million switch from Portugal to Merseyside in the final days of the January window.

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