Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo is in the middle of a dispute between Real Madrid and Portugal.
Ronaldo was surprisingly called up by Portugal coach Carlos Queiroz for the two-legged FIFA World Cup play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina despite Real Madrid recently claiming that Ronaldo will not be fit for at least two more weeks.
Queiroz and the Portuguese federation (FPF) wanted to perform their own assessment on Ronaldo, who suffered his injury playing for Real against Marseille in the UEFA Champions League on 30 September and they got it.
A statement on Real’s official website read:
“Real Madrid wishes to announce that Cristiano Ronaldo will travel to Portugal in the next few hours to put himself at the disposal of the medical services of the Portuguese federation.”
A statement issued by Madrid to Spanish sports newspaper Marca read:
“On Monday we sent the Portuguese federation all the medical evidence, from both our physician and (Dutch specialist) Niek van Dijk, which indicated that Ronaldo is injured.”
Queiroz defended his decision to ask Ronaldo to return to Portugal for assessment.
“Based on the rules and principles governing clubs and associations, we have put Cristiano in the squad,” he told Portuguese sports daily A Bola. “Of course, I welcome that these principles have been met. I have always said that this is a technical decision and that everyone must be observed before being cleared to play. Cristiano and everyone will be observed. Our medical team are competent and responsible, and you will see what happens. (But) this fact cannot compel me to put any club below or above the others. All clubs and players deserve equal treatment.”
Can you imagine the uproar in Madrid if Queiroz plays Ronaldo and he gets injured again and missed another month or so of action? Real are not the same team without Ronaldo, and if another lengthly spell on the sidelines could end their hopes of winning something this year