James Rodriguez's Father Discusses Zinedine Zidane's Appointment at Real Madrid

Zinedine Zidane's appointment as Real Madrid manager has been "bad" for James Rodriguez, according the playmaker's father, Wilson. 

In his debut season at the Bernabeu, Rodriguez was a first-team regular under Carlo Ancelotti, but he has become something of a fringe player under Zidane having failed to flourish also when Rafael Benitez was in charge earlier this term. 

His father insists that James can continue to improve, but he admitted he is struggling for form at the moment and that the change in manager—Zidane replaced Benitez in January—has not been good for his son, per Marca:

"

I think it is normal, football's like this. Injuries play a big part, and make it harder for a footballer to maintain his level.

[Ancelotti and Zidane] are two very different managers and the fact that he isn't playing at the moment doesn't mean anything, but it's obvious that change of manager was bad for him.

"

James was left on the bench for Saturday's El Clasico victory against Barcelona and was given only five minutes as a substitute in Wednesday's 2-0 UEFA Champions League defeat to Wolfsburg, per WhoScored.com.

Indeed, the 24-year-old Colombian has only played a full 90 minutes once since January—against Roma on March 8.

He was not used exhaustively under Benitez, playing only 57 per cent of the time he was available, but that figure has dropped to 52 per cent since Zidane was appointed, per Marca's Simon Harrison.

In his first season at the Bernabeu, he started 29 times in La Liga, scoring 13 goals and providing as many assists—his return this season from 19 appearances has been five goals and six assists—per WhoScored.com.

Under Ancelotti he was one of Real's key players, but rumours are now suggesting that he could be let go in the summer if Real can recoup the £63 million they paid Monaco for him in 2014, per El Confidencial (via Sport Witness):

James is a very talented forward and continues to prove with the Colombian national team that he can be world class when played consistently in the right role.

He could flourish at a number of other sides—and maybe still at Real—but if Los Blanocs want to recoup the money they spent on him this summer, they may struggle to attract a buyer considering James' poor recent form.