The technician Nestor Lorenzo prepares his call-up for the Colombian National Team for the qualifying matches against Peru and Argentina, in September, and the big question is whether James Rodriguezwho does not have a team at the moment, will be called up.
According to the criteria of
James is looking for a team. Since leaving Sao Paulo, he has been unable to find a place, and has received several rejections from teams that do not see his signing as viable.
The most recent was River Plate, a club that had strong links with him in the last week but that ultimately did not have negotiations to sign him.
So James is still available on the market and everything points to his desire to play in Europe again. There, rumours are growing that Rayo Vallecano of Spain are the firm candidates to sign him.
Can James be called up?
While that is being resolved, the big question for the national team is whether Lorenzo will consider him for the squad that will be announced soon. There are two factors on the table: one, whether he should be called up when he has no continuity, no competition and not even group training in a team. And the other, whether the regulations allow him to be called up since he is out of contract.
In this second aspect the answer is yes, James can be called up even if he has not played for any team. And this is because the regulations do not specify that he must have a valid contract to play in the qualifying round.
Carlos Gonzalez Pucheexecutive director of the Professional Footballers’ Association, explained: “It has nothing to do with the fact that the country allows him to participate, he is linked by the FCF regardless of whether he has a contract with a club, that is what the regulations of the player’s statute operate for, which establishes the times for the release of footballers when they are providing service to a club. Therefore, if James does not have a link, the Federation would not need to request his release. The fact that he does not have a contract does not generate a restriction for him to be called up for the World Cup qualifiers.”
Colombia will face Peru on September 6 in Lima, and then host Argentina on September 10 at the Metropolitano.
James was a great figure for the Colombian national team in the last Copa América in the United States, a tournament that he also arrived at without competitive rhythm, although he did have a contract with Sao Paulo.
The player has been training personally to stay in good physical and footballing condition, although the lack of group training plays against him.
Asked if the ’10’ asked him for any advice on the matter, the coach recently replied: “James is looking for his future, his future club. As soon as his signing with a club is made official, he will let us know. He is a great player, if he asks me, we will talk. Where should he go? Where he plays, where he has a role, where the coach wants him. That is the only information I could give him.”
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