Real Madrid Fans Pick James Rodriguez to Replace Injured Gareth Bale in AS Vote

Real Madrid fans want out-of-favour midfielder James Rodriguez to replace the injured Gareth Bale in Zinedine Zidane’s starting XI, according to a poll.

AS conducted the vote ahead of Los Blancos’ clash with Real Betis this weekend, with the Welshman set to sit out the contest. The Colombian took 62.7 percent of the supporter majority ahead of his fellow attacker Jese, who took 37.3 percent.

Here’s a look at the report, per the AS English Twitter feed:

There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding Rodriguez this season, especially since Zidane took over the managerial post from Rafael Benitez. In the Frenchman’s first two teams, Isco has been named in the No. 10 position, with the former Monaco man on the bench.

Reports have surfaced suggesting Real are willing to move the playmaker on, with El Confidencial (h/t Metro's George Bellshaw) claiming Manchester United could potentially make a move for the Colombian.

Some tension has been caught on camera between player and manager too. As noted by Marca, the Cuatro cameras seemed to show Zidane looking frustrated that Rodriguez, who had been asked to warm-up at the interval, wasn’t getting himself prepared for a potential introduction in the game against Sporting Gijon.

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Rodriguez hasn’t been in the best form this season, but there have been some standout moments from the 24-year-old. Here’s a look at what he can offer:

Bale will be a tough man to replace in the Real Madrid team. Cristiano Ronaldo remains the side’s top goalscorer, but the Welshman has been the driving force behind this outfit in recent weeks, with his surging runs, tremendous link-up play and prolific goalscoring making him one of the standout players in La Liga.

As we can see here courtesy of ESPN’s Paul Carr, Bale has been enjoying his best season in Real Madrid colours so far:

If Zidane is seeking to replace Bale with a stylistically similar player, then Jese is the most likely option. Like Bale, he can carry the ball quickly through phases, drive at opposition players and provide natural width. But after some recent speculation, the clash against Betis may well be the ideal chance for Rodriguez to prove his worth.

After all, as Dermot Corrigan of ESPN FC notes here, even though there has been talk of unrest, in his brief substitute appearances so far Rodriguez has impressed:

Getting Rodriguez back at full tilt would make Real a much more fearsome prospect. So often Los Blancos are faced with teams who sit seep, maintain a cohesive shape and seek to nullify their attacking prowess. The midfielder is a player, with his ingenuity and intricacy, who has the antidote for breaking down these types of defences on a consistent basis.

Of course, if Rodriguez is handed a start in what would clearly be a popular move, he’d have to ensure he’d take his chance. A new manager means a fresh start for all of the players in the main, and although there’s nobody denying the magic Rodriguez possesses, he needs to show Zidane he’s got the right mentality to win back his place in the XI.