Everything is set for the All-Star game of this evening at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas, although with last-minute changes in the schedules. James RodrÃguez was called to represent Liga MX, but finally stayed in Guanajuato to prepare for Saturday's Apertura match against Cruz Azul. Lionel Messi and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba, who stood in line to represent MLS, will also be absent.
James was one of the three Colombians to play in the game, an annual event since 2021. However, the midfielder did not travel to the United States in a joint decision with the club and the medical staff of León.
James concentrated at the start of the new campaign
Journalist Paco Montes noted that the absence of the León number 10 was exclusively to ensure that he remains focused on the Apertura. The team has three points of the first two games (one defeat and one victory – with one goal from James).
Although there was also speculation that his absence was due to a muscle overload, which was later refused by the same journalist, who pointed out that the Colombian trained to his teammates without any physical limitations.
All Star, without James and Messi
The absence of the Colombians is not the only thing that makes the match a little less attractive. The Argentinian star will not be in Texas either. He did not show up for Tuesday's training and was eventually excluded by MLS for the competition that starts at 6 pm in Colombia.
The match of this afternoon will culminate that the dispute between MLS and Liga MX will comprise. In the Skills Challenge, the United States team took the honor.
This would be the eleven that Nico Estévez, who is responsible for directing the MLS talents, compiling: Yohei Takaoka (Vancouver WhiteCaps); Alex Freeman (Orlando City), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Michael Boxall (Minnesota United), Max Arfsten (Columbus Crew); Sebastian Berhalter (Vancouver WhiteCaps), Jeppe Tverskov (San Diego FC), Denis Bouanga (Lafc), Evander (FC Cincinnati), Anders Dreyer (San Diego FC) and Sam Surridge (Nashville SC).
For Liga MX, the eleven would have been chosen by André Jardim: Luis Malagón (América); Israel Reyes (América), Ignacio Rivero (Cruz Azul), Sergio Ramos (Monterrey), Jesús Gallardo (Toluca); Erik Lira (Cruz Azul), Sergio Canales (Monterrey), Alejandro Zendejas (América), Alexis Vega (Toluca), Brian RodrÃguez (América) and Hugo Camberos (Chivas).
James will have Rogelio Funes Mori in León
The lack of a goal scorer has been noticeable in León's first games of the second half since leaving Cádiz. Berizzo and the club's management knew that they had to strengthen their attack, and they finally found the player who can become James's new partner.
Rogelio Funes Mori will become a member of León for a year after leaving Pumas through mutual agreement, according to César Luis Merlo. The 34-year-old striker arrives with 218 goals in 560 professional competitions.
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