Real Madrid midfielder James Rodriguez has been caught in a storm of criticism recently, with club officials allegedly being displeased with his lifestyle, and the player being accused of becoming fat.
James had his breakout season last time around with his stunning performance at the FIFA World Cup 2014, but this season has been a bit of a start-stop affair for the Colombian midfielder. There has been talk o the 24-year-old partying too much and even putting on weight and he recently adrressed these rumors, saying they were untrue.
“The talk really bothers me. Everyone who is close to me knows how I act and that I always look to take good care of myself.” he said to a Spanish publication, according to ESPN.
“I’m a great professional. What’s been said about me going out a lot at night is a lie. It p***** me off that people doubt me and say I am fat.”
Fast and Furious
The 24-year-old also addressed reports that he was chased by Police all the way to training for zooming his sports car at 200 kmph on the streets of Madrid on New Years day.
“I was not going as fast as everyone says. I had loud music on and when I arrived [at training] I saw they were behind,” said James. “It was acknowledged I could have gone slower. As usual with the press, everything is bigger. But if I see someone behind me, I stop. I’m not stupid.”
The midfielder went on to apologize and admit that he is prone to making mistakes sometimes.
Hearing issues
The latest controversy involving the Colombian came during Los Blancos 5-1 demolition of Sporting Gijon, where it looked like he refused to listen to manager Zinedine Zidane’s instructions to warm up. But James claimed that this was simply a case of him not hearing the manager, rather than not listening.
“I did not know I had to keep warming up, I just didn’t hear. If he tells me to go, I go,” he said.
