Colombian midfielder James Rodríguez received a rock-star welcome on Sunday as Atlético Nacional officially introduced him to fans at the Atanasio Girardot stadium in Medellín, ahead of the club’s match against Águilas Doradas. The presentation, one of the biggest signings in recent Colombian soccer history, drew thunderous cheers from the stadium’s green-and-white faithful, known as “verdolagas.”
Rodríguez walked onto the field smiling in a black training jersey, holding hands with his children, Salomé and Samuel, who wore the club’s traditional green jerseys. As he made his way through a corridor of young fans waving Nacional flags, he raised his arms to greet the crowd before sharing a warm embrace with goalkeeper David Ospina, his national-team teammate and a beloved figure at the club.
Rodríguez then put on his new jersey, number 23 — since Colombian league rules prevented the club from reassigning the number 10, currently worn by Edwin Cardona — and addressed supporters directly. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I hope we can share many joyful moments together, and above all, many titles,” he said, drawing loud applause. He also praised Ospina as an idol he hopes to emulate.
Want more details on the emotional unveiling? Check out the original article on El Tiempo.
Source: James Rodríguez fue presentado oficialmente en Atlético Nacional: así fue la bienvenida en el Atanasio Girardot (eltiempo.com). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: Sreejith K, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).