James Rodriguez will return to competition with Al Rayan. After more than a month without playing with his team, the Colombian midfielder is ready for his debut in the Asian Champions League, which he started this Thursday with 40clubs. The Qataris make up Group A together with FC Istiklol, with whom they will debut, Sharjah FC, and Gustavo Cuellar’s Al Hilal SFC, the current champion.

The Asian Football Confederation highlighted the presence of the Colombian, who will debut in the tournament, and put him on the list of great figures to follow in the 41st edition of the international tournament, elaborating on its official web page. The AFC highlighted his career as a professional and his contribution to the game.

“The former Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Monaco, FC, Porto, and Everton player needs no introduction, and his move to Al Rayan last summer will have piqued the interest of football fans around the world. Rodriguez has two UEFA Champions League winner’s medals in his cabinet and 59 appearances to show for his eight campaigns,” the Asian Champions League post began.

“With Al Rayan in Group A, Rodriguez can expect matchups with the likes of Bernard, Caio, Salem Al masani, Matheus Pereira, and Manuchekhr Dzhalilov. The last four times that Al Rayan took part in the AFC Champions League, it eliminated them from the group stage, something that Rodríguez and company will have in mind when they face Al Hilal SFC, Istiklol, and Sharjah”, the report added.

Santi Casoria (Al Sad), Bernard (Sharjah FC) and Odeon Inhale (Al Hilal), Ever Banega (Al Shabab), and Toby Alderweireld (Al Dhulia) are the other players who are part of the list created by the AFC Champions League of the most outstanding soccer players.

James Rodríguez has accumulated 1.18 minutes in 14 games played with Al Rayan, between the Qatar Stars League and the Emir Cup. The player participated in 12 goals, scoring five and assisting in seven.

The match between FC Istiklol Dushanbe of Tajikistan and Al Rayan of Qatar, valid for the first day of Group A of the AFC Champions League, will be played this Friday, April 8. (Colombian time) at the King Fahd Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.