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Real Madrid's James Rodriguez: I want to stay despite 'strange' season

James Rodriguez has said he is happy at Real Madrid and wants to learn from the "bad times" next season.

James, who joined Madrid from Monaco in 2014, has endured a difficult second season at the Bernabeu and was left on the bench for Saturday's Champions League final victory over Atletico Madrid.

The Colombia international does not appear to be part of Zinedine Zidane's plans and has been linked with a number of top clubs in Europe, but he said he wants to stay on at the club.

"In football you never know but I want to continue here and my idea is to have many more years with the club," he told reporters.

"I am happy here. All the people close to me are happy too. It's the ideal club and I want to be here."

The 24-year-old acknowledged that it had been a tough season but said he was "happy" to have been part of a Champions League-winning squad.

"Yes, I would have liked to play but I did contribute to the team's success," he added. "They were all good and it was a very good Champions League victory."

He said his season had been a "bit strange" but added: "When you have bad times you also learn from them. Each day I learn more."

Asked what had been lacking, he replied: "I don't know but I have to leave this behind and think about what is ahead of me."