FC Porto, the Portugese soccer powerhouse, on Friday purchased the last 35% of Colombian rising star James Rodriguez’s contract for a reported $11.8M.
Rodriguez, known as “El Bandido” or “The Bandit,” is considered one of the finest young prospects in the world.
This brings the club’s total investment in Rodriguez to a reported $18.37 million. Some consider the player to be worth twice that amount. In the 2011-12 season of Portugal’s Primeira Liga, Rodriguez scored 13 goals for Porto and delivered 11 assists.
El Bandido is one of the key figures of the Porto attack alongside his countryman Jackson Martinez. This season the young Colombian star has scored seven goals in just twelve league games.
BACKGROUND: Colombian soccer star James Rodriguez hits headlines in Portugal
Rodriguez hails from Cucuta, which is located in northern Colombia near the Venezuelan border.