Zinedine Zidane 'Does Not Like' James Rodriguez, Says Carlos Valderrama

Colombia legend Carlos Valderrama thinks Real Madrid’s James Rodriguez is being harshly treated by his manager Zinedine Zidane.

Having enjoyed a wonderful first season at the football club, the Colombia star has faded into a peripheral figure under the new boss. Valderrama thinks a clash of styles between Rodriguez and Zidane is preventing him from getting a run in the first-team, per Alex Bywater of the MailOnline.

“Even if he (Rodriguez) scores three, four or five goals, Zidane won't put him on,” said the former midfielder. “James is a player he does not like.”

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It’s easy to see why Valderrama has forged that opinion. Since the Frenchman took over from Rafael Benitez at the Santiago Bernabeu, he’s gradually put his own stamp on the team, and it’s evident Rodriguez is not part of his best XI.

With Cristiano Ronaldo absent due to injury against Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday, many thought Rodriguez would be given a chance. Instead, Zidane began the game with Lucas Vazquez occupying one of the advanced positions and then opted for Jese when Karim Benzema was withdrawn at half-time.

Bleacher Report’s Karl Matchett summed up just how little Rodriguez has been involved in the first-team setup recently:

Carlo Ancelotti was the manager who brought the Colombian to the Bernabeu, a coach who he flourished under. And you’d imagine a footballer of his immense natural talent could be of use to Zidane.

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After all, Rodriguez steadily built a reputation as one of the most creative players in world football on the back of the FIFA World Cup in 2014. Whether deployed as a No. 10 or in one of the wider berths, his ability to find space, play incisive forward passes and score spectacular goals gave Real a refreshed attacking dimension.

As Agence France-Presse’s Kieran Canning noted, it’s been quite a fall from grace given just how impressive the Colombia star was last year:

What Zidane and Real face now is a tough decision about what to do with the player moving forward. As noted by Bywater, Rodriguez was a costly acquisition at £58 million, and you suspect the hierarchy at the club would like to see him used more frequently. However, it’s evident this manager prefers different types of players.

Bleacher Report’s Clark Whitney does not think the bold decision-making from the manager will go down particularly well with Real president Florentino Perez:

Rodriguez will want to play regularly, too. Time is running out for him to get a chance and make an impression under Zidane, it would seem. After all, if he can’t get a chance in the XI with Ronaldo and Benzema absent in a big game, it’d take something extraordinary before the manager throws him in.

Los Blancos will not want to relinquish a player of such incredible talent, although if Zidane continues to put his imprint on matters at the Bernabeu, Rodriguez could find himself marginalised. If the Colombian doesn’t get a chance—and takes it—between now and the end of the campaign, it’d be no surprise to see the two parties go their separate ways.