James Rodríguez still waiting for MLS debut, says his manager | OneFootball

Minnesota United coach, Cameron Knowles, stated this Friday that the Colombian star James Rodríguez, the team's newest addition, still does not have a set date for his debut in the MLS.

The captain of the Colombian national team, aged 34, is the biggest signing of Major League Soccer (MLS) for the 2026 season, which starts this Saturday (21), when United visits Austin FC.

Rodríguez did not travel to Texas for the team's season opener because he had not yet received his work visa, Knowles explained in a press conference before the match against the team of Uruguayan forward Facundo Torres.

“He remained in Minnesota, where he continued training, and we hope to integrate him into the group when we return on Monday,” explained the New Zealand coach in response to a question from AFP.

“It's difficult to set a specific timeline [for his debut] because we haven't seen him in a full week of training yet,” he added.

Leading a low-profile club that has never reached the MLS final, Knowles stated he does not have a “clear indicator” of the physical condition of the number 10, whose performance in recent clubs has been hindered by recurring injuries.

“When James is ready to play and when we feel we can put him in a situation where he can succeed, we will integrate him,” he stated.

The coaching staff hopes Rodríguez will fully participate in training with the group on Monday to undergo constant evaluations and thus determine a possible date for his debut.

“He is working very hard, has a great attitude, and is an excellent teammate,” emphasized the 43-year-old coach.

In the second match of the MLS season, on February 28, Minnesota United will host FC Cincinnati at Allianz Field, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

*By AFP

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.