Everton duo James Rodriguez and Moise Kean forced to train alone
Everton duo James Rodriguez and Moise Kean are both away from the first-team squad ahead of Saturday’s Premier League opener versus Southampton.
That’s according to ‘The Bobble’, a Twitter account that regularly provides insight from around Finch Farm. They are followed by The Times’ Paul Joyce and ex-Everton captain Kevin Ratcliffe.
Via his Twitter on Thursday night [12/08/21], he wrote: “As some reports suggest, James Rodriguez is currently training away from the rest of the squad. Moise Kean is also training alone.”
Rodriguez also took to his Twitch channel on Thursday to discuss current events, with Paul Joyce sharing a post from Colombian journalist Pipe Sierra who translated the exchange on his Twitter account.
Rodriguez allegedly said: “There is a game on Saturday… but I don’t know, I don’t think I’ll play. Everything can happen until the end of the month. Soccer always changes fast.”
Sierra added: “They tell me that he has been training for three days separately from the group at Everton. The reasons are unknown.”
Big calls
This seems a strange move by Rafa Benitez, if he is indeed the one who has sanctioned it.
Why would you alienate even more of the Blues fanbase? Both players may not have enjoyed illustrious Goodison Park careers so far, but they are undoubtedly among the most talented stars at the club, and with fitness doubts over Richarlison and Dominic Calvert-Lewin, can we afford to be without Kean and Rodriguez this weekend.
That seems the most likely scenario, as it’s hard to see either featuring after being banished from training with the team.
Rodriguez’s comments sound particularly telling.
The Colombian is one of the most liked players at the club, and Blues fans will be unhappy to hear about his exclusion amid a lack of quality attacking signings so far this summer.
In other Everton news, an English midfielder has held Blues transfer talks amid Benitez contact.
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