Unexpected! Colombia's biggest star will skip the national team call-up, and here's why

Colombia will have to manage without their main star in the upcoming friendlies. Luis Díaz will stay in Munich during the international break, and the reason is quite telling.

Details: According to CentreGoals, Díaz has been left out of Colombia's squad for the friendlies against Mexico, Paraguay and Peru. Bayern and the Colombian Football Federation have agreed that the winger will use the break to rest and recover after a packed calendar.

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The decision is a classic case of workload management: Colombia coach Néstor Lorenzo has opted to give several established players a breather in matches that carry no competitive weight. Díaz's body has endured a brutal schedule: last season he played 51 matches for Bayern, scoring 26 goals and providing 23 assists, then went straight into the 2026 World Cup, where he marked his debut at the tournament with a goal and an assist and impressed in the knockout rounds. The new campaign has started slowly for the 29-year-old, with just one goal in four Bundesliga appearances, so a reset in Munich could be exactly what he needs. It is also a diplomatic victory for Bayern, who back in the spring openly expressed concern when Colombia fielded their winger in a friendly against Croatia. The German champions paid €70 million to sign Díaz from Liverpool in the summer of 2025, and protecting that investment during meaningless friendlies is a top priority. Colombia, meanwhile, will use the games against Mexico, Paraguay and Peru to test new faces without their leader.

It's worth noting that Bayern's squad has already been hit by fitness worries this season, with Jamal Musiala's frightening blackout episodes, so the club's medical staff will gladly welcome a quiet fortnight for Díaz.

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