James Rodriguez Reportedly 'Disillusioned' Under Rafa Benitez at Real Madrid

The unravelling at Real Madrid continued this week following reports that midfield dynamo James Rodriguez has grown "disillusioned" under manager Rafa Benitez after being dropped for Wednesday's win over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Tomas Roncero of Spanish daily AS alleged Benitez told the Colombian his drop from the XI was due to the fact "there are better player performing than you." Rodriguez failed to feature in the 4-3 win over Shakhtar and was taken off with more than 30 minutes remaining in the 4-0 El Clasico defeat to Barcelona.

Roncero wrote:

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James is slowly becoming more distant and disillusioned with the Madrid coach.. In Seville, he stared [sic] on the bench and was only given playing time when the game was beyond Madrid in the second half. This didn’t stop the Colombian player from firing home a long range goal in the 92nd minute of the game. That day the player felt he was a candidate to be in the starting line-up but Benitez commented that the James; “still needs some work".

The same week in a Champions League game at the Bernabeu against PSG, the player from Cúcuta spent much time warming up and in the end wasn’t called upon by the Madrid coach. James is beginning to realize that he isn’t considered as a guarantee in Rafa Benitez’s line-up’s and certainly doesn’t figure among the list of untouchables that is clearly developing.

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Being left out against Shakhtar is described as a "tipping point in Rodriguez's career," a sign that perhaps he won't be gifted the opportunities he feels he deserves among an admittedly star-studded cast.

Roncero goes on to add the player's representatives are even seeking a wage increase for the star, who wishes to jump from his €5.5 million annual salary to €10 million, on par with the likes of Gareth Bale and Sergio Ramos.

Francisco Seco/Associated Press

Rodriguez's position at the Bernabeu has changed significantly since he completed an €80 million move to Spain's capital from Monaco in the wake of the 2014 World Cup, where he was one of the tournament's stars.

The 24-year-old has struggled with injuries this season, but that didn't stop Benitez welcoming his return to fitness prior to last Saturday's El Clasico, per Real Madrid's official Twitter account:

Rodriguez has scored three goals in just four outings for Los Blancos this season, an even more impressive ratio considering only two of those games have been as part of the team's starting XI.

Cristiano Ronaldo, Bale and Karim Benzema would each be considered among that list of "untouchables" mentioned by Roncero, limiting the amount of realistic chances in attack.

Fernando Vergara/Associated Press

But Rodriguez is sure to have come to the Bernabeu with a vision of how he saw himself fitting in among, or perhaps even in front of any one of those players, a venture perhaps enjoyed more under Benitez's predecessor, Carlo Ancelotti.

Isco is another one of those competing for a similar spot in attacking midfield along with Rodriguez, but Spanish football writer Rafael Hernandez recently outlined whom he saw as the superior talent between that pair:

Benitez has endured a difficult tenure so far at the Real Madrid helm, and Los Merengues now sit six points off La Liga leaders Barcelona, with Bale, Benzema and Ronaldo also searching for their top form.

Real made a hefty investment in Rodriguez, and so it's understandable that the player, fans and the board might look to see him utilised to his optimum, but the first signs of an unsettled star could be emerging.