James Rodríguez has not returned to be the protagonist of football news. Not within a playing field. His has been phrases that he has said on Twitch, dismissal of the Colombian Selection, a pass market frustrated by the little interest of other clubs, and the resignation of staying at Everton despite the fact that Rafa Benítez, his coach, does not have it as first option.
And it is that next Thursday, September 16, James will be 4 months without playing an official game. Since May 16, in the 0-1 defeat with Sheffield United (date 36 of the Premier League), the Colombian has not played with Everton. Not to mention that he has not played with the Colombia National Team since November 17, 2020, when they lost 6-1 to Ecuador, in Quito, for the Qatar 2022 Qualifiers.
James’ figures are sad and disappointing, they are also worrying.
Everton already completed 6 consecutive official games without James, counting the 3-1 win over Burnley on Monday, in which Yerry Mina stood out in the match and in the 4th round of the Premier League. In total they are 121 days without playing officially for the ‘toffee’.
The Colombian National Team seems to miss him little too, at least in terms of results and time without having him in their ranks: they are already 12 games, all from the Reinaldo Rueda cycle, with James Rodríguez absent; there have been 4 wins, 6 draws and only 2 losses …There are already 300 days without playing with the Colombian National Team.
When would James return to play with Everton and the National Team?
Next Tuesday, September 21, Everton will play the English League Cup (Carabao Cup) against Queens Park Rangers, and in that game rotation is expected in the roster and a chance from Rafa Benítez for James Rodríguez.
For its part, the Colombian National Team will have a triple World Cup qualifying date in October, facing Uruguay (visitor), Brazil (local) and Ecuador (local), on the 7th, 10th and 14th of that month. James, who would have already fixed his situation with Reinaldo Rueda, could be called up again, as long as he does not have injury problems.
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