Everton midfielder James Rodriguez has been told he must be at 500% if he is to make a return to the Colombian national team.
Rodriguez has been missing for his country for the last few months, with a series of injuries and fitness issues, meaning he’s been left on the sidelines.
Those issues sparked a war of words with his national team this summer when he was removed from the squad for the Copa America over fitness issues.
That led to the Everton man hitting back publicly, which had seen him fall out with coach Reinaldo Rueda as a result.
Their issues have now reportedly been solved, but Rueda has insisted that Rodriguez still needs to be over the maximum to be in his plans.
“I think the player’s anxiety and desire to be here in the national team makes you unconsciously precipitate these appearances,” Marca report him saying.
“I think it’s very clear, we can’t hurt James, nor the national team, when we have seen him at his best, we want him, when he is 500% because 100% is not enough for the national team.”
Those comments were made at some point over the last week and, during his press conference yesterday, Rueda was asked to explain what he means.
“We always tell the players that they must be at 500%, and we refer to that plus that is to be in the Colombia national team,” he added.
“We want the players to take care of themselves in all possible variables. That 500% involves a number of factors and variables.
“The issue of players who have other components helps. All the moments and positions are different.”
So then, it appears Rodriguez has work to do if he is to feature for his country moving forwards, particularly in the run-up to the World Cup next year.
He’ll first have to get back into Everton’s first team, which is likely to be a challenge given his perceived frosty relationship with manager Rafa Benitez.
But Rueda insists any chances of a return for Colombia is entirely dependant on how he’s doing at Goodison Park.
“Everything is going to happen because of what his current situation is,” AS report him saying.
“To the extent that James can play, have a better current situation, good for us, for Everton, for him and for the national team.
“You want players to play regularly, to have that continuity, that rhythm for the competition.”
