James Rodríguez to Be Unveiled at the Atanasio Girardot with Atlético Nacional

It won't be long now before the Nacional faithful get to chant his name from the stands. James Rodríguez has already gone through the press conference, already put on the jersey for the official photos, already said what he needed to say in front of the microphones. Now comes the part that truly matters for any player joining a club like this one: feeling a packed stadium roar his name.

That moment arrives this Sunday. Atlético Nacional hosts Águilas Doradas in matchday 10 of the Colombian league, and the club has confirmed it will use the occasion to formally introduce James to the fans at the Atanasio Girardot. The presentation is set for 2:45 p.m., more than an hour before kickoff, so Nacional has asked supporters to arrive early if they don't want to miss it.

The signing was finalized right at the edge of the transfer window closing, and honestly, it completely changed the conversation about who's favored to win the second-half title. With James on the roster, Nacional is now, without question, the team to beat. You don't have to be a green fan to recognize that a player of his caliber, with World Cups on his resume and a career built in Europe, doesn't show up in the Colombian league every day.

There was already a first, more private introduction on September 11: the official press conference alongside club executives and head coach Lucas González, where James spoke for the first time as a Nacional player. He talked about his excitement, about what he expects from this new chapter in Medellín, and answered the standard round of questions. That was the formal moment. What comes now is different: it's the affection of the fans, something that can't be fully scripted even if the club organizes it.

And there's one detail that has fans buzzing these days: the number. Nacional announced that anyone who buys the jersey at Tienda Verde will get the name and number printed for free, but it still hasn't been revealed which number James will wear. Will it be 10, the one his career seems to be begging for? For now it remains the big question, and it will likely be answered right at Sunday's unveiling.

Match Details

Nacional vs. Águilas Doradas takes place this Sunday, September 13, with kickoff at 4:05 p.m. (Colombia time), at the Atanasio Girardot in Medellín. Before that, at 2:45 p.m., comes the moment everyone is waiting for: James in front of his people, wearing the Nacional jersey for the first time in his own stadium.