Ex-Colombia star Carlos Valderrama says it is "strange" how much criticism James Rodriguez gets at Real Madrid, adding that it is about time the "crack" (top player) was left alone to get on with fighting for his place at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.

James joined Madrid for €80 million from Monaco after winning the Golden Boot at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and had an excellent first season under then Blancos coach Carlo Ancelotti.

But more recently he has struggled for playing time under Rafa Benitez and Zinedine Zidane, and received more criticism during the international break for travelling to Colombia despite being unable to play due to a calf injury.

Speaking to AS on a visit to NASL team Miami FC, the World Cup 1990 and 1994 star said that "all Colombians" wanted to know what had happened to a player who at first was a star at the Bernabeu.

"James' situation is strange," Valderrama said. "If he was a bad player he would not be at Madrid, where he has shown he is a 'crack'.

"His first year he was the star. Then came the problems and he started to play much less, but he always performed. What is the problem with James? That is what all Colombians would like to know.

"They do not leave James alone at Real Madrid, ever since [Carlo] Ancelotti left, his quiet time is over. If he sets up a goal... he is bad. If he scores a goal ... he is bad. If he comes to play for Colombia ... he is bad. If he gets injured ... he is bad.

"How many players do Real Madrid have? Just one? There is not one day when they don't talk about James. I was a footballer and we are talking about Real Madrid ... But does nothing else newsworthy happen at Real Madrid? I don't understand it. Just leave him alone for a bit."

James Rodriguez's Real Madrid future has been the subject of speculation. Black/Corbis via Getty Images

James was not to blame for the recent situation which saw him criticised for travelling 22,000 kilometres to join up with Colombia when he could have been resting and recovering ahead of Madrid's next La Liga game at Real Betis this Saturday, Valderrama insisted.

"They called him up for the national team when he was injured," he said. "So what is a player going to do? He shows up. They knew he was injured, but James did nothing wrong. He has to come and present himself."

'El Pibe' said he accepted that Zidane could only pick 11 players from a multi-talented and large squad, while also pointing out that James always performed when given a chance to play.

"I would not blame the coach, instead those who do not leave him alone even for a little while," he said. "The coach uses him when he wants to. He has 25 players and must choose an XI. It is Zidane's decision to pick him or not, but whenever he does James responds."