Jefferson Lerma has personally requested to be left out of Colombia’s upcoming international squad as he targets a full recovery from a persistent foot injury that has threatened to stall his season at Crystal Palace.
The 31-year-old midfielder has taken the unusual step of asking national team coach Néstor Lorenzo to omit him from the upcoming window. An opponent heavily trod on Lerma during a recent fixture, inflicting acute inflammation that severely restricts his mobility and training schedule. Consequently, the midfielder has struggled to stay on the pitch in recent weeks.
Despite the discomfort, Lerma made himself available to Crystal Palace for last weekend’s goalless draw against Leeds United. With several first-team regulars already sidelined through injury, the Colombian put his hand up to play, eventually completing 45 minutes to help secure a point before the pain forced him off.
Prioritising Selhurst Park Over International Duty
Reports from South America, via journalist Mariano Olsen, confirm that Lerma contacted Lorenzo directly to outline the extent of his foot problem. He explained that continuing to play through the swelling without proper rest risked causing long-term structural damage.
The decision is a significant one given Lerma’s stature in South American football. A talismanic figure for Los Cafeteros, he featured heavily as a starter in Colombia’s World Cup campaign earlier this summer and has accumulated over 50 caps for his country.
However, with Palace’s medical staff working overtime to manage a growing casualty list, Lerma felt an obligation to prioritise his domestic duties and avoid adding thousands of air miles to his physical toll.
Managing a Stuttering Start to the Campaign
For Palace, the news comes as a major boost ahead of a crucial block of fixtures after the break. Lerma’s availability has been heavily restricted during the opening weeks of the campaign; he has managed just 74 minutes across Palace’s last three matches, including brief substitute appearances against Middlesbrough and Ipswich Town before his shortened stint against Leeds.
That fragmented playing time stands in contrast to his previous reliability. Since his arrival at Selhurst Park, Lerma has boasted an exceptional fitness record:
| Season | Injury Absences | Games Missed |
| 2023/24 | Two minor spells | 12 matches |
| 2024/25 | Minor head injury | 2 matches (7 days) |
| 2025/26 | Disrupted start (Foot) | 0 matches (Managed) |
Palace will now use the fortnight clear of domestic action to put Lerma through an intensive rehabilitation programme, with the medical department confident that two weeks of rest will resolve the inflammation in his foot ahead of their return to Premier League action.
