Madrid wanted to keep him.

He knew he wasn’t going to get a lot of time right now , because Zissou feels Dani, Mendy, Nacho and Marcelo are interchangeable. Those are a lot of players to compete against. And Zissou prefers to give veterans more minutes.

He would have been the guy in the future because of his talent ...but it wasn’t going to be immediate. He didn’t want to wait.

And Odriozola is out on loan in the wings.

Also Madrid has a buy back clause....after he has matured over at inter, he could be back at Madrid when he enter his prime.

So it’s not a big deal.

But James Rodriguez? Zissou should be shot for that. He just refused to play him.