Football
Adriana Garcia 8y

James Rodriguez needs more respect at Real Madrid - Faustino Asprilla

Real Madrid and their coach Zinedine Zidane are not showing forward James Rodriguez the respect he deserves, according to Colombia legend Faustino Asprilla.

James won the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and joined Real in an €80 million move from Monaco, but after a strong first season he endured a difficult 2015-16 campaign in Spain.

"James has been missing a bit more confidence from Zidane and that he gives him a little bit more respect," former Newcastle and Parma striker Asprilla told Spanish radio Onda Cero.

The Colombia international scored 17 times and set up 17 more in 43 appearances in his first season but he made just 21 starts in all competitions after suffering a thigh injury and also falling out of favour with coach Rafa Benitez and his replacement, Zidane.

"He was given the opportunity to play when he arrived to Real Madrid and it cannot be that he played well under [Carlo] Ancelotti and then the next year Zidane takes over and he plays badly," Asprilla said. "If he hasn't been able to continue to prove his worth it's because the coach is not counting on him... he is giving him limited minutes."

James started on the bench and played just 13 minutes in Real's 3-0 triumph at Real Sociedad in their La Liga opener last Sunday.

Asprilla is convinced that if given the opportunity by Zidane, James can again showcase his talent.

"We are talking about James Rodriguez, probably the No. 1 figure in Colombian football today," Asprilla said. "He had an extraordinary World Cup and finished as the top scorer. "One has to show a little bit of patience and even respect."

Asprilla was keen to remind Zidane that other Real players have been given the benefit of the doubt.

"Karim Benzema has been seven seasons at Real Madrid and the first couple of years Benzema should have been returned to Lyon but they kept him and waited for him to deliver," he said. "In his first year at Real, Gareth Bale had half the impact that he had had at Tottenham."

James is under contract with Real until June 2020 and he has been linked with Chelsea and Arsena.

Asked if Real should sell James in this transfer window, a recent poll in Marca in which 29,000 people took part in, had 59 per cent voting yes versus 40.9 per cent voting no.

Asprilla, Colombia's third all-time leading scorer with 20 goals, says Real should keep James and that the player should stay put.

"I would fight for a place but it depends on what the coach says," Asprilla said. "If Real Madrid paid that fee for him, they should respect that and give him more playing time."

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