Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello
again omitted Ronaldo on Saturday when he named a 19-player squad for
this weekend's league match with Mallorca.
David Beckham, who hasn't been picked this
year, wasn't considered as he has a left thigh strain, Capello said.
Ronaldo, who is reportedly close to a move to AC Milan, last played for
Madrid on Jan. 7 when he appeared as a substitute in the 2-0 defeat at
Deportivo La Coruna.
The Brazilian has been made available for transfer after an
injury-plagued season in which he has failed to satisfy Capello.
However, the coach hinted Saturday that Ronaldo may not leave.
"I see Ronaldo in Real Madrid's shirt," the Italian was quoted as saying
by Madrid's Web site. "He has had problems and he's now recovering."
Capello denied Beckham's injury had been invented as a result of his
rift with the club's management.
"We have a doctor, a medical team. Beckham has problems. He went out
today for a moment onto the field and he had to go off. I'm not a doctor,
I'm not going to talk about what is the matter with Beckham," Capello
said.
As he did last Wednesday, Capello suggested he may review his decision
to stop Beckham from playing for the team following the former England
captain's decision to join Los Angeles Galaxy in August.
"We have already said things can change but we have to wait for the
right moment. I said so the other day. There are possibilities but it
depends on many things," Capello said.
Madrid's squad for Sunday's game at Mallorca's Ono stadium lacked six
other injured players, including captain Raul Gonzalez and Roberto
Carlos.
The team is hoping to bounce back from Thursday's Copa del Rey
elimination by Real Betis, which crowned a tough week.
Madrid president Ramon Calderon was forced to apologize after
criticizing David Beckham and the rest of the team two days earlier.
Beckham was described as a Hollywood movie-star hopeful by Calderon, who
added Madrid's players were vain and egotistical.
Calderon held a meeting with the players on Thursday. British daily The
Guardian reported Beckham was among players incensed by the president's
comments and told the president that he "told lies."
Madrid is third in the league with 35 points from 18 games, two points
behind leader Sevilla. |