PAt 34 years old, James Rodríguez is probably thinking about what will be his last World Cup with Colombia. That was his only goal and he therefore decided to change teams again in February, seeking more time to arrive at the World Cup in top condition. After several years of not finding his place anywhere, James signed with Minnesota United and became a mainstay in MLS alongside stars such as Lionel Messi, Thomas Muller and Luis Suarez.
But his plans could go awry too soon, ruining the United States’ World Cup presence. Now it’s in jeopardy. That’s not only because he was one of the players left in the dark after the Colombian national team’s last two friendlies, with heartbreaking defeats against Croatia and France. It’s also because his coach in Minnesota doesn’t seem to have high expectations for him from now until the World Cup.
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Minnesota coach doesn’t trust James Rodriguez
Journalist Camilo Barreto reports that his coach, Cameron Knowles, never asked for a contract and, like other stars who landed in MLS, the goal was to get a marketing hit. James needs to play and get minutes, which doesn’t seem easy at this point.
Minnesota next plays against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday, but James, who has already returned from Colombia, is looking for a chance to earn his spot on the team and prove he still has the football talent left in him. Otherwise, the dream of a final “last dance” at the World Cup could be shattered in the worst possible way.
