Real Madrid Galactico James Rodriguez denied he had ever thought of leaving the club this summer, when speaking after scoring in Sunday evening's 2-0 La Liga win at Espanyol.
James, an €80 million summer 2014 signing, had a superb first season at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, but then a more difficult 2015-16 campaign as he struggled to find a place in the starting XI under both of that year's coaches Rafa Benitez and Zinedine Zidane.
Those circumstances led to regular speculation during the summer 2016 transfer window that James could move on, with Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Arsenal among the teams rumoured to have considered a move, and more recently reports claiming that he personally decided against an €85m move to Inter Milan.
Speaking on BeIn Sports after he had opened the scoring with a fine low 25-yard effort at Cornella-El Prat in a record 16th straight La Liga win for Zidane's side, the Colombia international said that he had always wanted to stay and fight for a place in the Madrid team.
"I always wanted to stay here and I'm going to fight to stay here always," James said. "Zidane did not say anything to me [about leaving]."
Despite occasional rumours in the Madrid press that James was unsettled at the club and in the city, the 25-year-old denied that he had anything but a good relationship with his coach and his teammates.
"It's not been a bad time," James said. "I have the support of everyone, including the coach. It's not about what people talk about outside. I have a good relationship with Zidane and the rest of my teammates and you can see that. We are a united team and we want to keep winning and setting records, as we did today."
James' started against Espanyol, making him the last of Zidane's senior outfield players to be named in an XI this season. The former Monaco player said he had no issue with the French coach's decision to take him off and send on fit-again Isco with 30 minutes remaining.
"I understand the change," James said. "I am just one more member of the squad. I want to help out."