Lisbon, Nov 6 (DPA) Portugal are set to call Real Madrid star winger Cristiano Ronaldo for a key play-off en route to the 2010 World Cup even though he is out of action due to an ankle injury.
Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Gilberto Madail insisted Thursday that Ronaldo would be on Sunday’s national team list for the crucial November 14 and 18 matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Earlier, Real Madrid had said in a statement that Ronaldo would be off the pitch for at least two more weeks due to an injury to his right ankle.
“Ronaldo will come to the national team training camp,” Madail said in the winger’s native island, Madeira. “I stand by what I said. Cristiano Ronaldo wants to come to play, he is coming to the training camp and he will be evaluated by the federation’s medical team.”
Madail ruled out any possible trouble with Real Madrid, however, and said Portugal is in touch with the club.
“The situation is under control,” he stressed.
Real Madrid are very worried about their star’s ankle injury. Ronaldo sprained a ligament in his right ankle Sept 30 in a Champions League match against Olympique Marsella in which he scored two goals.
He was back on the pitch Oct 10, to play for Portugal against Hungary, but relapsed and left the pitch before the final whistle.
He has not played since and Real’s results have suffered in consequence.
Ronaldo travelled to the Netherlands Thursday, to be examined by specialist doctor Cornelius Nicolas Van Dijk, the expert who operated upon his battered right ankle July 7 last year.
rounak