|
 |
| Cristiano Ronaldo is a key man for Portugal [AFP] |
Cristiano Ronaldo was due to join Portugal's squad for medical tests ahead of the World Cup playoff despite Real Madrid's insistence that his ankle is still injured.
Madrid, which paid a world-record $141 million to Manchester United for the winger in the offseason, had initially balked at allowing Ronaldo to travel as he hasn't played in a month.
But the Spanish club said on its website in a one-sentence statement that Ronaldo will make the trip "in the next few hours.''
Fifa rules say clubs must permit national football federations to carry out their own fitness tests.
Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz, who was unaware of Madrid's statement before he held a news conference, said he didn't know if Ronaldo would play against Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday in Lisbon or at Zenica on November 18.
"Cristiano, like all players, will undergo medical tests ... and the team doctors will make an appropriate decision,'' Queiroz said.
Health concerns
Queiroz, a former Real Madrid coach, said the health of all players is the foremost concern and "nonnegotiable.''
"Each side's interests, the player's, the club's, the (Portuguese) federation's, will be taken into account,'' Queiroz said.
"Each side is meeting its obligations.''
Ronaldo was hurt during Madrid's Champions League match with Marseille on
September 30.
He then aggravated the injury while playing for Portugal in a World Cup qualifier against Hungary on October 10 and hasn't played since.
The Portuguese Football Federation said all other players from Spanish clubs must travel to Portugal on Wednesday, after Tuesday's Copa del Rey matches.
|