When you tune into the Club World Cup at the end of December, don't expect to see James Rodriguez on the pitch for Real Madrid. The club announced on Monday that he has a right hamstring injury, and while it's not too serious, he's unlikely to be available to Los Merengues in that tournament.
James Rodriguez strains hamstring, likely out for Club World Cup
Denis Doyle/Getty Images
Rodriguez picked up the injury in Madrid's win over Celta Vigo, and will miss a couple of other pre-Club World Cup matches as well. Madrid plays Ludogorets in Champions League this week, then Almeria in La Liga on Friday. After that, they'll travel to Morocco.
Carlo Ancelotti said that James "has a small chance of playing in the final" of the Club World Cup, but Madrid are unlikely to risk him if he isn't fully fit.
The good news for Madrid is that Rodriguez’s injury has coincided perfectly with the return of Jese. While they’re not the exact same kind of player -- Ancelotti has played James in the center of midfield, somewhere Jese can’t play, as often as the wing -- he still provides some degree of depth in positions James could occupy. Don’t be surprised if Madrid’s most highly-touted youngster gets some games over the next month.
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