James Rodríguez shuts the door on Junior, officially unveiled at Atlético Nacional

Four days earlier, even he didn't believe it. Then, suddenly, everything changed: James Rodríguez is now a player for Atlético Nacional, and this Friday, at his official presentation, he had to address the transfer that never happened: his approach with Junior de Barranquilla.

The midfielder from Cúcuta didn't dodge the subject. After months of back and forth, with Fuad Char growing frustrated over a deal that ultimately fell through, James settled the matter without hesitation.

The Junior thing is in the past, now I'm here and I'm happy. I think this club and this jersey carry the most weight in Colombia. That's it, that's all there is to say.James Rodríguez

That statement sums up his final decision pretty well. Because a return to Colombian soccer wasn't a done deal until very recently, either. In fact, just six months ago the player himself had said it "wasn't the time" to come back. That's why his arrival at Nacional ended up catching even the most optimistic fans off guard.

I'll admit it, if you'd asked me four days ago I would have said no. Everything changed in three days, just the weight this jersey carries. These are feelings that struck a chord with me, and when that happens, that's when you know.James Rodríguez

With the deal now signed, he had his first training session with the rest of the squad this Friday, under coach Lucas González, at the Antioquia club's training facility. That's no small detail for James: he had gone nearly two months without playing an official match, since that July 7 loss when Colombia fell to Switzerland in the World Cup round of 16.

A club that feels like family

When it came time to explain why he chose Nacional over the other options on the table, James leaned more on the heart than the head.

From what I see from the outside, I think it's a tribe, they're a family, and that's a beautiful thing too. I'm someone who likes to be close to people. When you feel that way it's easier to play, when you feel loved. If you look at the clubs where I was at my top level, they were with coaches who cared about me.James Rodríguez

He added something that sounded almost like a fan's promise rather than a newly arrived star's:

Plus the project they have, it's a club that's hungry, and I'm hungry too. I always want to win, that's what we agreed on, and hopefully this turns into a beautiful dream. I'm not here to take it easy.James Rodríguez

The full celebration with the fans arrives on Sunday, September 13, when the number 10 will be presented at the Atanasio Girardot ahead of the match against Águilas Doradas, for matchday 10 of the Colombian league. Given the name and the history behind it, this signing is already being talked about as one of the biggest in Colombian soccer in a long time.