Crystal Palace midfielder Jefferson Lerma has drawn strong concern in Colombia following his recent injury, with journalist Carlos Antonio Velez delivering a pointed assessment on Deportes RCN.
Velez made it clear how central the 30-year-old remains for both club and country. He said: “What is happening with Lerma seriously worries me. Lerma is the balance point of the team.”
The Colombian international will be out of contention for three weeks or more, and Crystal Palace’s poor run of form has only amplified the discussion back home.
“He is the one who gives balance”
Velez did not hide his concern about Crystal Palace’s situation. He referenced the club’s recent record and suggested the pressure is building at Selhurst Park.
He stated: “He has got injured. It does not surprise me, because the workload he has with the national team, he also has with his club. This is a team that has only one win in the last sixteen matches.”
That run, in his view, has consequences beyond results. He added: “A team that is doing badly drags the good players down with it. When a team is not functioning well, the good players become overshadowed.”
For Crystal Palace supporters, that line will resonate. Lerma arrived from Bournemouth in 2023 and quickly became one of the squad’s most reliable performers. However, instability around him has made his role even heavier.
Velez also highlighted Lerma’s tactical versatility. He explained: “He has played as a five, as an eight, even as a centre-back in a back three. He has served the team in every role.”
That flexibility has made him vital for Colombia too. Velez used a striking metaphor to underline the point: “In the national team, he is the one who gives balance. He is the guardian of the mosque. He protects the stone. He is responsible for Colombia’s balance.”
World Cup concern already emerging
Local journalistJuan Felipe Cadavid, speaking on the same Deportes RCN programme, took a lighter tone but made the same underlying point about timing.
He said: “Well, this is the time for Lerma to get injured, no? Later, he’s better not come out with jokes for the World Cup. But now, fine, go and rest, get a little injury if you want, as long as it is absolutely nothing serious. Afterwards, do not come with nonsense. We need him for the World Cup.”
With the tournament set for the middle of the year, the message from Colombia is clear. The injury may not only concern Palace, but also a national team that sees Lerma as a guaranteed starter.
From a Palace perspective, that underlines the scale of responsibility on his shoulders. When results dip, structure becomes essential. Lerma provides that structure.
If his absence stretches, Crystal Palace lose not just a midfielder, but the player many in Colombia openly describe as the side’s stabilising force.