The brief and peculiar tenure of James Rodríguez at MLS side Minnesota United, his seventh club this decade, may conclude this Wednesday after three months filled with uncertainty that has deepened concern among Colombian fans ahead of the World Cup.
The 34-year-old captain and emblem of the Colombian national team will report to coach Néstor Lorenzo on Sunday without the playing time he had hoped to gain from his surprising move to the North American league.
Until his likely farewell on Wednesday in a home match against Colorado Rapids, the former Real Madrid playmaker has featured in only five MLS games, starting just one. His tally so far stands at zero goals and two assists in 130 minutes, offering only fleeting glimpses of his immense talent.
Before arriving at Minnesota in February, James had already been inactive for three months after leaving Mexican side León, frustrating Colombian fans who were hoping for a resurgence similar to his MVP performance at the 2024 Copa América.
In MLS, James did not receive the typical star welcome. Contract details suggested a short stay in frigid Minneapolis. Both parties agreed to a four-month deal until the MLS pause on May 25 for the World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Minnesota held an option to extend through year-end, a low-cost gamble for a franchise that has never reached an MLS final.
While James reportedly earned around $5 million at León, his salary with Minnesota amounts to just $684,000, according to the MLS players’ union salary list released this Tuesday. Eight teammates, including Ghanaian Kelvin Yeboah ($1.6 million annually), earn more than the Colombian.
**An Abrupt End**
The Minnesota experiment won’t mark the end of James’s erratic club career, which has lacked stability since his stints at Real Madrid (2014-2017 and 2019-2020) and Bayern Munich (2017-2019). It also appears to have failed in its goal of physically preparing him to lead Colombia’s return to the World Cup after the painful absence from Qatar 2022.
His debut with United was delayed over a month as he struggled to match his teammates’ fitness. When ready, he made his first appearance on March 15 as a substitute in Minnesota’s worst-ever defeat, a 6-0 thrashing by Vancouver Whitecaps. Since then, James was a regular on the injury report for sometimes unclear reasons.
In April, he spent three days hospitalized after a friendly with Colombia. The club attributed it to severe dehydration but had to quell rumors of rhabdomyolysis, a serious condition. Earlier this month, he missed a match against Columbus Crew due to a “previously scheduled routine medical procedure.”
Last week, James himself addressed reports of his potential retirement after the World Cup. “I think people should be better informed. The only one who knows how long I want to play is me, and when the time comes I’ll say it. I have a couple more years left,” he emphasized after the 2-2 draw with Austin FC on Sunday.
Coming off the bench again, the Colombian needed just 14 minutes to provide assists for both Minnesota goals. Despite that performance, James had already decided to end his time with the Loons early. Instead of fulfilling his contract and playing the last two MLS matches in May, he announced he would begin World Cup preparations at the Colombian national team camp on Sunday, his happy refuge.