A Johnson
Well-Known Member
COLOMBIAN legend Faryd Mondragon has claimed Alfredo Morelos was ordered not to travel for a series of games for his country last year by then-manager Reinaldo Rueda because he was injured... but turned up anyway.
Morelos was at the centre of a bizarre episode last season when firstly, he travelled a total of 14,832 miles for two World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Peru and didn't even make the bench for either of them.
Then he turned up for Colombia's crucial double-header against Venezuela and Bolivia in March only for the Colombian FA to announce halfway through that he was injured and he missed the rest of the season with Rangers, after having thigh surgery.
Former Ibrox hero Ally McCoist actually made the point at the time that players leave for international duty anyway.
He said: "Call me old-fashioned, but if he is injured, I'd have him on the first flight back to see and evaluate it.
"But I don't know how it works these days with international players, sometimes they can leave without permission, you know."
Morelos has never played for his country since and is stuck on 11 caps.
He last played for his country for just nine minutes in Colombia's Copa America campaign of seven games almost two years ago.
But goalkeeping legend Mondragon - who played in three World Cups and held the record for the oldest player ever to feature at the tournament at one time - came out with a curious theory about Morelos' absence in a South American sports show, Planeta Futebol.
He said: "I know for a fact that a player travelled for international duty with us last year when he was expressly told not to come because he was injured.
"That player was Alfredo Morelos.
"The former fitness coach of the national team, Carlos Velasco, told me he joined up without permission.
"I asked him why Morelos got on the plane without permission and he said he didn't know."
Colombia sacked Rueda after failing to qualify for the World Cup and are now managed by Nestor Lorenzo, who hasn't handed Morelos an international recall.
The striker is back in his homeland during the current break and courted confusion again at the weekend.
He pulled on an EVERTON strip for a kickabout on his South American trip and was pictured by his charity's social media manager.
The Toffees were one of the many clubs linked to the forward through his Ibrox career - but that may be approaching an end-point with his contract expiring at the end of this season.
The Scottish Sun has approached Rangers regarding the goalkeeper's claims.
Morelos was at the centre of a bizarre episode last season when firstly, he travelled a total of 14,832 miles for two World Cup qualifiers against Argentina and Peru and didn't even make the bench for either of them.
Then he turned up for Colombia's crucial double-header against Venezuela and Bolivia in March only for the Colombian FA to announce halfway through that he was injured and he missed the rest of the season with Rangers, after having thigh surgery.
Former Ibrox hero Ally McCoist actually made the point at the time that players leave for international duty anyway.
He said: "Call me old-fashioned, but if he is injured, I'd have him on the first flight back to see and evaluate it.
"But I don't know how it works these days with international players, sometimes they can leave without permission, you know."
Morelos has never played for his country since and is stuck on 11 caps.
He last played for his country for just nine minutes in Colombia's Copa America campaign of seven games almost two years ago.
But goalkeeping legend Mondragon - who played in three World Cups and held the record for the oldest player ever to feature at the tournament at one time - came out with a curious theory about Morelos' absence in a South American sports show, Planeta Futebol.
He said: "I know for a fact that a player travelled for international duty with us last year when he was expressly told not to come because he was injured.
"That player was Alfredo Morelos.
"The former fitness coach of the national team, Carlos Velasco, told me he joined up without permission.
"I asked him why Morelos got on the plane without permission and he said he didn't know."
Colombia sacked Rueda after failing to qualify for the World Cup and are now managed by Nestor Lorenzo, who hasn't handed Morelos an international recall.
The striker is back in his homeland during the current break and courted confusion again at the weekend.
He pulled on an EVERTON strip for a kickabout on his South American trip and was pictured by his charity's social media manager.
The Toffees were one of the many clubs linked to the forward through his Ibrox career - but that may be approaching an end-point with his contract expiring at the end of this season.
The Scottish Sun has approached Rangers regarding the goalkeeper's claims.