Colombian football captain James Rodriguez was admitted to hospital for three days due to severe dehydration following a friendly match against France, as confirmed by Colombia’s football federation on Thursday.
The 34-year-old, who previously played for Real Madrid and Everton, took part in Sunday’s World Cup warm-up match in Landover, Maryland, where Colombia suffered a 3-1 defeat. Rodriguez was replaced after 63 minutes, having appeared lethargic and out of sync with the game.
According to the federation, he “displayed signs of severe dehydration, which necessitated his hospitalisation for the past 72 hours.“
Rodriguez was taken to a medical facility in Minnesota, where he currently plays for Major League Soccer team Minnesota United, “for preventative clinical monitoring and recovery.“
Minnesota United has confirmed that Rodriguez is on the mend, informing AFP that an update regarding his participation in this weekend’s match against LA Galaxy will be provided on Friday.
Having signed with the MLS club in February, Rodriguez has only managed to play 39 minutes so far due to injuries. The federation clarified that his hospital stay was not related to these prior injuries.
His fitness level remains uncertain as Colombia gears up for the World Cup this summer, where they will compete against Uzbekistan, DR Congo, and Portugal in Group K.
Rodriguez previously stood as the top scorer during the 2014 World Cup, which led to his transfer to Real Madrid shortly thereafter.
He still holds an influential position within the Colombian squad, although head coach Nestor Lorenzo has faced criticism for selecting Rodriguez in matches against France and a previous friendly against Croatia, considering his lack of match readiness.
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