James Rodriguez to remain at Real Madrid despite €85M bid

An unnamed club has tabled a €85-million bid for Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez, the player confirmed Friday, but he's not considering an exit from the Santiago Bernabeu despite quibbles over playing time.

Amid reported interest from Manchester United and Chelsea, the Colombia international has had an opportunity in recent weeks to consider his future in La Liga. Rodriguez struggled to secure a spot in Zinedine Zidane's starting lineup last season after flourishing under Carlo Ancelotti and Rafa Benitez.

But Rodriguez is determined to show that he belongs.

"I will fight to earn my place. That's my dream," he told Marca. "I will stay at Real Madrid, I will succeed here. I know that the club received an €85-million bid for me, but I'm not leaving."

The 25-year-old is one of several absentees for Madrid's U.S. tour, along with fellow superstars Sergio Ramos and Cristiano Ronaldo. He will not play in any of Los Blancos' preseason matches against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, or Bayern Munich.

He joined Madrid from AS Monaco for €80 million on the heels of remarkable performances for his country at the 2014 World Cup.