James Rodriguez couldn't shower naked in Qatar and brands German people 'cold'

The Colombian played for Al Rayyan for one year after leaving Everton in 2021 but made just 13 appearances as he could not settle.

Despite signing a three-year contract worth £6million a year, this was terminated in September last year and he signed for Olympiacos.

And the attacking midfielder has since revealed he could not settle in Qatar due to their customs, including not being naked while showering after a match.

"Life and culture in Qatar are very difficult, it was a country where it was difficult to adapt," he told Brazilian TV channel Globo.

"You know that in football everyone is naked when they shower, but my teammates told me: 'You can't do it like that'. I was afraid.

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"Everyone there eats with their hands, which was difficult for me.

"They shared it with me and I said, 'No thanks'.

"I asked for cutlery and they told me: 'No, with your hand' and I replied: 'You guys are crazy, I won't eat with my hand'."

Rodriguez also spent two years in Germany after joining Bayern Munich on loan from Real Madrid in 2017.

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While he won two Bundesliga titles, the 2014 World Cup superstar did not enjoy his time in Munich and even described the people as cold.

"It's cold there. The Germans are also cold people, even if I was treated fantastically at FC Bayern," he is quoted as saying.

"There were days when I went to work at 9am, I turned on the car and the temperature was -28.

"I say: 'What am I doing here? Munich is a city that has a lot of quality of life, but I couldn't be comfortable."

Rodriguez has since left Europe and signed for Brazilian side Sao Paulo, joining in July where he has signed a two-year contract.

Across a nomadic career, he joined Everton in 2020 to reunite with Carlo Ancelotti but fell out of favour when Rafa Benitez joined.