Braga Plan Massive Move for Colombian Star

After two years of trophies, sales and Champions League, Armando Azevedo, alongside fellow board members at the club are eyeing their biggest movement in the transfer window in their history by purchasing Colombian and AS Monaco's James Rodríguez.

Since his €47m move to tax-haven Monaco, it's own principality at the bottom of France, Rodríguez has failed to force his way into the starting eleven regularly and seems to be losing patience, which means he may see his future away from Rybolovlev's Monaco.

Braga boss Armando Azevedo has certainly caught onto this and has had successful talks with boardroom staff such as António Salvador some reports say. This is Braga's biggest move they've ever made and it has almost certainly given fans something to look forward to. Everyone knew when Azevedo won his first title at Braga that they were heading into a new era, not just for Braga, but Portuguese football itself. But this is something else, this is Braga joining Europe's elite. They've found themselves with a lot of money and now look prepared to spend it.

If the move materialises, it would be Rodríguez's first return to Portuguese football since his departure from FC Porto to Monaco for €47m back at the start of the 2013-14 season.

Tension Rises Before Braga vs Monaco Match

As the rumours start to spread about James Rodríguez, both teams prepare to face each other in what could be a deciding match as to who goes through into the knockout rounds in Group E.

The last time the two met, Monaco played Braga off the park in a 3-1 win that Os Minhotos are looking for revenge for. Since that result though, Braga have bounced back by not losing a single game since that fixture in mid-September - 61 days ago.

Also, to add to Braga's threat comes Michy Batshuayi, who has scored in every single game since that result. This is something that Monaco's defence desperately needs to look out for as Batshuayi has now gained the reputation of one of the most clinical strikers in Portugal, up there with FC Porto's Jackson Martínez and SL Benfica's Oscar Cardozo.

At the moment, Braga hold second spot in Group E and look definite to go through should they beat Monaco later this week. Braga stand on seven points with a goal difference of +1, whilst Monaco sit one point behind them in third with a goal difference of 0. Although, should the two teams draw, Monaco have the best chance ever of going through as they play bottom of the group AS Roma who are already out of the tournament after four defeats and a goal difference of -7, whilst Braga must play Real Madrid who, if they beat Roma in the next fixture will qualify for the knockout stages.

Braga target James Rodríguez seems unlikely to start for Les Rouges et Blancs as the 4-1-3-2 formation involves no wingers or attacking midfield spots which leaves Rodríguez hoping to get a few minutes from the bench.

Azevedo Takes Up Belgium.

Azevedo's Belgium Press Conference

Durham:Hello, I'm Adrian Durham, this is TalkSport and we're at the Belgium Football Association press conference in the capital city of Brussels. The FA have just appointed Braga boss Armando Azevedo as the new manager to take the nation forward. Now we in England have a limited knowledge of Portuguese football, especially regarding Braga which is why we have our very own Portuguese journalist, Afonso Correia, to run us through Azevedo's successes in Portugal. Hello Afonso!

Correia: Hello Adrian, what would you like to know about Azevedo?

Durham: Start off with how he came onto the managerial stage, because even with my limited knowledge, I know that his story is very unusual to most others.

Correia: Yes, it most definitely was. You see, Azevedo had played for Boavista's academy when he was a young boy and Boavista were a very strong side back in the day as many of the listeners know. But he said to me in an interview I had with him a few months ago, he would do anything to play for Braga, he grew up watching Braga with his father when he was young as many Braga fans know, which is why many fans were happy with his appointment as he had an affiliation with them beforehand.

Everyone in Portugal knows how much he loves his club. He's reiterated many times how much he loves his Braga. But he obviously wasn't good enough for Boavista and was kicked out by the Head of Academy at that time. He then began to see the real picture of the real world as he took up a job at one of the local law firms in Braga as he wanted to be closer to Braga's home stadium and Braga itself.

He did very well at his job as a lawyer according to his old boss, who didn't want to be named but he was a very friendly man, but whilst he was working as a lawyer, it turned out that he had set up his own junior Sunday League team for the under-13's in Braga and he coached them and he was an excellent coach if one of the child's parents was to be believed. Then apparently one day after he went to watch a Braga match, Azevedo went into the club bar and spoke to the chairman António Salvador! They became good friends and a few weeks after the season finished, Salvador sacked the old manager, gave Azevedo a call and sure enough, six titles entered their way into the trophy cabinet! Braga's most successful manager to date!

Durham: That's superb. A real inspiration to any aspiring coaches everywhere. So, Afonso, how is Azevedo seen in Portugal following his successes?

Correia: It really depends on which team you support, everybody in Portugal apart from Sporting Lisbon, Benfica and Porto love him because for a while, Braga was mainly a nothing side, then out of nowhere comes this Azevedo man and starts winning everything, which is why the top sides really despise him, nothing personal, it's just that the top clubs see it as him stealing their place in Portuguese football.

FC Porto's manager, Paulo Fonseca most notably took a dig at him when him and Azevedo were fighting it out for the title last season by saying that Azevedo will crumble under pressure, three weeks later he's won his second consecutive title. A great manager.

Durham: Incredible stuff, I'm gonna have to start following Portuguese football, seems very entertaining!

Correia: I'm glad you say that because Portuguese football has been underwritten for so many years because of it's lack of investment in top class players when it produces some of the worlds best players, take Cristiano Ronaldo for example.

Durham: Absolutely, I'm afraid we're going to have to stop there as the conference is about to begin.

Azevedo: Good morning Belgium, let's begin with the questions. Fire away ladies and gentlemen.

Journalist: How do you feel upon taking the Belgium job Armando?

Azevedo: As you can probably guess I'm extremely excited as this is a new area of management and I've been welcomed to the opportunity to manage one of the best national teams about right now.

Journalist: What are your aims with this young side you have at your disposal here?

Azevedo: My aims? A bit of a stupid question really. As many people in Portugal know, I like my teams to be champions, to be the best. With this Belgium side, my views stay exactly the same. Belgium will win the European Championships in 2016, and the World Cup in Russia in 2018. If I don't, sack me. I'll be a failure.

Journalist: What do you think about the team and pool of players you have at the moment and possibly in the future should Belgium produce more world class players?

Azevedo: I think the squad I have right now is the squad to conquer international football. I am trying to build the squad to conquer club football at Braga, which is a work-in-progress but right now, it is Belgium's time to shine on the world stage. The quarter-finals isn't good enough for anyone.

Journalist: Are you sure you aren't piling on the pressure on the squad here, Armando?

Azevedo: *sigh* Haha, I tell my players at Braga that they are champions before the first season started and almost a year later we have the clubs first league title, it's how football works my friend. Confidence.

Journalist: That is some comment there Armando, how will you be playing with Belgium?

Azevedo: I will be playing the Azevedo way.

Journalist: May I ask what the 'Azvedo Way' is?

Azevedo: No. You cannot describe the Azevedo way. You must witness the Azevedo way. The players must learn the Azevedo way.

Journalist: What do you say to Michy Batshuayi's thoughts on you getting the Belgium job earlier in the week?

Azevedo: It's very nice of him to come out with such praise and I'm thankful for that, he's given me a bit of leeway in terms of getting the supporters onside. He's a brilliant player as well.

I think that is enough questions for now.