Loons: Next week might be James Rodriguez’s last in Minnesota
· Yahoo Sports
Minnesota United’s experiment with James Rodriguez might end in the next 10 days.
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The Colombian national team opens training camp for the FIFA World Cup on May 15, and preparing for that event has always been the primary reason why the 34-year-old attacking midfielder came Minnesota in the first place.
MNUFC has two more MLS home games before that date — against Austin FC at 6 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. next Wednesday versus Colorado Rapids.
Will that serve as the end of Rodriguez’s time in Minnesota?
“We’re having conversations on a weekly basis,” Loons Chief Soccer Officer Khaled El-Ahmad said Tuesday.
The Loons have two more MLS games before it takes its own World Cup break — at New England on May 16 and home to Real Salt Lake on May 23.
El-Ahmad said the club is also talking about when its two other likely World Cup players — Michael Boxall (New Zealand) and Carlos Harvey (Panama) — will start preparing for the tournament with their respective countries.
MNUFC has a contract option to bring Rodriguez back for the second, post-World Cup portion of the MLS season, but there is little on-field reason to exercise it.
El-Ahmad was asked if he anticipates James returning in July. “We take this as it comes,” he replied.
Rodriguez also has been noncommittal on what he will do after the World Cup, saying he’s only focused on the build up to the tourney. He was outstanding in his only MLS start, creating five scoring chances in a 1-0 loss to LAFC on April 25, and spoke to reporters postgame.
“There’s still a month to go, and well, I’m training hard — training to the max, going all out, just as I always have,” Rodriguez said. “So whatever playing time comes my way here, I think it’s going to go well.”
But last weekend, Rodriguez opted out of the 3-2 win over Columbus Crew due to what was termed by the club as a “previously scheduled routine medical procedure.”
That was just the latest setback. Other excused absences include: work visa (one game), foot injury (one), extreme dehydration (two) and the “routine” procedure (one).
MNUFC shocked MLS and the broader soccer world by signing the two-time UEFA Champions League winner and 2024 World Cup golden boot leader in June, but the returns have been underwhelming on the field.
Rodriguez has no goals and no assists in 104 out of a possible 990 minutes across 11 MLS matches this season. He has also played 79 minutes and no goal contributions in the U.S. Open Cup.
The Loons continue to stand behind Rodriguez.
“He’s been amazing off the pitch, great in the training,” El-Ahmad said. “I don’t know if you saw training (Tuesday). He scored the last goal. Everyone runs around and celebrates.
“There’s moments that stand out where he didn’t travel to one of the games (so) he went to practice with the (Under-18 team), so from a culture perspective and how much winning means to him, he’s been great.”