James Rodríguez closes in on Atlético Nacional move as paperwork nears completion

The rumor had been circulating for weeks, but now it looks ready to become official: James Rodríguez is close to signing with Atlético Nacional. Only a few administrative details remain before finalizing what already shapes up as the biggest signing of the semester in Colombian soccer, the kind that makes even rival fans raise an eyebrow.

At 34, James wouldn't be arriving in Medellín as a backup option or a marquee name for the trophy case. Everything points to Lucas González penciling him in as an automatic starter in the creative zone, the engine room of a team that had already been running quite smoothly without him. Did Nacional need another player? Maybe not out of urgency, but when a footballer of James's stature becomes available, any roster finds a way to make room.

And the timing couldn't be better. The Verdolaga have 12 points from five matches and sit fourth in the table, a run that even compares favorably to América de Cali, who have 20 points from eight matches played. James isn't arriving to put out a fire: he's arriving to supercharge a machine that was already humming.

A roster stacked with names in every line

Just look at the squad to understand why Nacional can afford this luxury. Between the posts is Franco Armani, the club idol who returned bringing the kind of experience only years can provide. The back line is made up of Andrés Román on the right, the center back pairing of Néider Parra and William Tesillo, and Milton Casco, the former multi-time champion with River, on the left.

In midfield, Jorman Campuzano has established himself as one of the team's pillars, and everything suggests that Mateus Uribe, given his experience and track record, will end up earning a starting spot alongside him. Names like Zapata and Marín are also in the mix there, a sign that Nacional has no shortage of depth in midfield.

The trickiest issue lies in the creative zone. Edwin Cardona is going through a strong stretch and currently pulls the strings for the team, but his profile is too similar to James's: both are playmakers, and pairing them would mean sacrificing physical coverage in a team concept that needs intensity at both ends of the field. Everything suggests Cardona would be the one to step aside. Also left on the sidelines is Juan Manuel Rengifo, the young player who was a standout last semester but has seen less playing time this time around, amid rumors of a possible move abroad.

Up front, James would find Marlos Moreno and Andrés Sarmiento as wingers, two players who have been creating havoc out wide with speed and dribbling. And at center forward, Alfredo Morelos, the 'Búfalo', the Verdolaga's main offensive reference, looks like the ideal target for those through balls that are the Colombian's trademark.

The ideal starting eleven, with James already in the mix, would look like this: Franco Armani; Andrés Román, Néider Parra, William Tesillo, Milton Casco; Jorman Campuzano, Mateus Uribe; James Rodríguez; Marlos Moreno, Andrés Sarmiento and Alfredo Morelos. On paper, it looks like one of the most complete lineups seen in Colombian soccer in a long time.