Bayern won't exercise James option for permanent deal

Bayern Munich won't trigger a club option for a permanent deal on James Rodriguez's loan after the Colombian star told the Bundesliga champs he'd like to leave.

"In principle, the decision was made because he (James) came to me before the end of the season and asked me not to activate the option," Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Sport 1, per beIN Sports.

Bayern had a €42-million club option to secure James' services permanently, though according to Rummenigge, it won't be exercised at the player's request.

"His agent (Jorge Mendes) also called me again last week. Activating the option now against his will makes no sense," Rummenigge added. "You should not hire a player for €42 million with an appropriate salary if you cannot offer him a firm position."

James, 27, has spent the last two seasons in the Bavarian capital on loan from Real Madrid, making 40 league appearances over that spell on the way to playing a fringe role in two Bundesliga titles and a domestic cup.

It's unclear if Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane sees James's future at the Santiago Bernabeu, prompting reports that the left-footer could be in line for a reunion with former Bayern tutor Carlo Ancelotti at Napoli this summer.