There is concern over the health of former Everton and Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez after the 34-year-old was rushed to hospital showing signs of ‘severe dehydration.’
Rodriguez played for his country earlier this week as Colombia were beaten 3-1 by France in a friendly game in the United States ahead of the summer’s World Cup. The temperature at the time of the game was around 26 degrees Celcius.
On Thursday, the Colombian Football Federation released a statement revealing Rodriguez had spent 72 hours in a hospital in Minnesota. It read: ‘The day after the match against France, the player presented symptoms of severe dehydration, which necessitated his hospitalisation over the past 72 hours for preventive clinical monitoring and recovery.’
It added that Rodriguez ‘has been under professional observation due to a medical condition of non-sports-related origin.’ He played just over an hour of the game.
While reports have stated Rodriguez – who also featured in Colombia’s game against Croatia last week – is now back at home recovering from the health scare, there is rising concern over his long-term health.
According to Marca, he is not currently able to compete at the highest level, and will miss his club side’s game against LA Galaxy this weekend in what is a crucial game for Minnesota United.
There is concern about the health of James Rodriguez after he was rushed to hospital after playing for Colombia
Rodriguez was suffering with dehydration, which is cause for concern ahead of the summer’s World Cup
Reported leaked medical notes suggest his situation is ‘serious,’ with the Colombian struggling with his fitness since he signed for the club in February. He has played just 47 minutes for his new team, with muscle injuries the main reason he has struggled for game time.
Manager Cameron Knowles, however, has played down concerns, saying: ‘A player’s absence can happen for many reasons, but we must prioritise health. As he improves, we will integrate him back in, but we won’t rush his return if it means risking a long-term injury.’
And though it impacts his club side, it also raises concerns for Colombia ahead of the World Cup. The friendly was played in Maryland in the United States, with the international tournament to be held in the region this summer.
Players’ health has been of paramount importance in the planning, and there will be regular hydration breaks in all of the games played.
But, for Colombia, their captain’s health will be a worry as they attempt to succeed in the tournament.
Rodriguez has made more than 100 appearances for his country and is set to skipper Colombia at the World Cup. The South American nation is in Group K, alongside Portugal, DR Congo and Uzbekistan.
