Real’s James Rodriguez caught doing 200kph

It was reported that the officials had to flash their badges to enter the premises of the training facility of Real Madrid where they finally caught up with the 24-year-old Columbian midfielder.

The Colombian was reportedly chased to Madrid’s training ground by police, who accused Rodriguez of driving at 200 kmh (124 mph). “Evidently, we are talking about a private matter”.

Rafael Benitez is happy with James Rodriguez, despite the Real Madrid attacker’s brush with Spanish police Friday. “James is a good kid, he is serious, he has given us his explanations about what happened and there is no more to say”, Benitez said on Saturday.

Benitez also played down rumours of a rift with midfielder Isco, who has not started a league game since early November and was an unused substitute in the team’s last two games. “When one stops playing you always ask me why”. Yesterday I was chatting to him.

With Benitez’s position at the Bernabeu still under pressure, there have been suggestions that defeat at Mestalla on Sunday could lead to him being sacked amid unhappiness from many Madrid fans.

“The time to make assessments is at the end of the season”. Benitez and Rodriguez haven’t had the best relationship since the Spaniard took charge of Madrid six months ago with Rodriguez often showing his frustration at being substituted or even left out of the starting line-up.

“I am very confident and I am not thinking about any slip-ups”, he said.