Having arrived at Goodison Park from Real Madrid in the summer, James Rodríguez had a bright start to his Everton career, scoring three goals and registering three assists in his first five matches.
Since last month’s international break, the 29-year-old has managed only one assist and the Toffees have failed to win their last four league matches.
The Colombia international was involved in three of them, which included a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester United last weekend.
Rodríguez played the full 90 minutes for his national team in their latest 3-0 defeat to Uruguay in the World Cup qualifiers on Friday.
Gol Caracol states Colombia ‘played a bad game against the serious and disciplined Uruguay’ and the Everton player ‘did not shine a light’ with his performance in Barranquilla.
The outlet states the attacking midfielder ‘was not at his best’, and Carlos Queiroz’s men were beaten from ‘start to finish’.
It’s claimed Rodríguez was ‘easy prey’ for Lucas Torreira and Rodrigo Bentancur, who were operating in Uruguay’s midfield. When the Everton player received the ball in the second half, he ‘found no facility or space’.
Gol Caracol states the former Real Madrid man’s performance against Uruguay ‘turned out to be something similar to what happened to him’ in Everton’s defeat to United. Carlo Ancelotti replaced him in the final quarter of the game against the Red Devils.
Ancelotti and Everton will hope Rodríguez regains his best form once he returns to Merseyside after the international break.
