James Rodriguez hints at retirement plans as Everton star plots long-term future

James Rodriguez claims he will not play into his late 30s but plans to help develop Everton and Colombia's young talent before he hangs up his boots.

The South American joined the Toffees in September as he reunited with Carlo Ancelotti on Merseyside.

Despite impressing at Goodison Park, Rodriguez has suffered with calf injuries at times this season, missing three weeks over the Christmas period and a further month in March, before sitting out the last three games.

The former Bayern Munich and Real Madrid star will turn 30 on July 12.

But he has no intention of following in the footsteps of the likes of Willy Caballero and Thiago Silva, fellow South Americans who have played Premier League football into their late 30s.

"I haven't given it much thought," Rodriguez told the Colombian FA.

"I can't tell you where I would like to retire. I don't think it will be long because I wouldn't want to play too old.

"For now, I want to enjoy it as much as possible.

"I want to learn, to help the young players. This whole crop of players who are almost 30 years old and upwards have less and less time to go."

Rodriguez started his playing career in his native Colombia with Envigado before moving to Argentina and signing with Banfield.

He moved to Europe in 2010 when he joined Porto for a fee in the region of £4million and he impressed for the Portuguese club, scoring 32 goals and creating 41 assists in 108 appearances.

His performances persuaded Monaco to pay £38.4million in the summer of 2013 but it was the 2014 World Cup when he really burst into the average fan's consciousness.

Rodriguez was Colombia's talisman as they impressed on their way to the quarter-finals and the attacking midfielder scored six goals and created another two in his five games at the tournament.

It resulted in a £71million move to Real Madrid that same summer and he would win two Champions Leagues, two World Club Cups and two La Liga titles during his time in Spain, not to mention other cup competitions.

It wasn't all smooth sailing for him at Real though, as on either side of his two La Liga wins there was a two-year loan spell at Bayern Munich, where he won two Bundesliga titles, a DFB-Pokal and played under Carlo Ancelotti.

Everton secured a coup last summer by landing Rodriguez, with Ancelotti playing a major role in attracting him to the club, and after missing the double header with Aston Villa and the West Ham clash in-between, Rodriguez is expected to return for Sunday night's game with Sheffield United.

Rodriguez, who has scored six goals and created another nine in his 25 appearances for Everton, returned to full training on Friday and could even start on Sunday night as the Toffees chase European football next season.