James Rodriguez’s first competitive game for Real Madrid in more than two years ended with injury misery last weekend – but his former national team doctor has little sympathy for his plight.
James had been linked to several clubs over the summer but is seemingly staying put at the Bernabeu, having spent the last two seasons on loan with Bayern Munich.
Signed from Monaco after a series of sensational displays at the 2014 World Cup with Colombia, the 28-year-old never truly established himself at Real, but nonetheless has scored 36 goals in only 112 appearances for the club.
That goal-scoring knack is what must have prompted Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane into starting the Colombian against Real Valladolid on Saturday. It didn’t go to plan.
James limped off with a calf injury that is expected to keep him out for a whole month as Madrid stumbled to a 1-1 draw.
According to Hector Fabio Cruz, a former team doctor of Colombia, this is no hard luck story.
“The boy isn’t focused,” Cruz told Futbolred. “Instead of working for the new season he went to fix his eyebrows and his hair while he should have been working.
“Big teams like Madrid expect professionalism, who will be prepared, but this boy has a bad head.”
Cruz used James’ mindset straight after the 2018 World Cup as an example – having been ruled out of the last-16 clash with England due to injury – compared to renowned workhorse Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Cristiano took a week of vacation,” he said.
“He went on a yacht with his family to Greece and then the following week he had 15 people preparing him for the season.
“He’s the most professional guy I know.
“James left the World Cup injured, hired a private plane, went to the beach and relaxed. That can’t be.”
