Coach says unhappy players should leave Real Madrid
Gravesen linked with United move
Real Madrid players who are unhappy with their lot should leave, coach Juan Ramon Lopez Caro said yesterday.
"Anyone who is unsettled here should head for the door and go," Lopez Caro told a news conference.
"If they are not prepared to help the team they shouldn't try and fool themselves or the club."
Real are 13 points behind leaders Barcelona in sixth position.
Lopez Caro was responding to a question about Denmark midfielder Thomas Gravesen, who has been reported in the British press as being unsettled at his lack of opportunities.
"I haven't noticed anything amiss with the player, if I had I would have spoken to him about it.
"I can only praise Gravesen as an excellent professional and an excellent person. I am surprised by the things they write about him."
Danish tabloid Ekstra Bladet reported yesterday that Manchester United had made an offer of 3.8 million euros, but that Real were holding out for five million.
The 29-year-old joined Real from Everton in January 2005 for a fee of 3.5 million euros.
After being a regular starter under former coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo until the end of last season, he has dropped out of favour this term behind Pablo Garcia, Guti, Ivan Helguera and Sergio Ramos in the holding role in midfield.
Meanwhile, a spate of injuries has depleted Real Madrid's squad ahead of their King's Cup last 16 second leg against Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu tonight.
Italy striker Antonio Cassano, who joined Real from Roma last week, is still working on a special training plan to regain fitness and recover from a thigh strain.
First-choice strike pairing Raul and Ronaldo are both sidelined, with knee and calf injuries respectively.
England defender Jonathan Woodgate has a calf strain and drops out of the squad, while Pablo Garcia, Roberto Carlos and Francisco Pavon are also injured.
Real hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg, thanks to David Beckham's goal in San Mames.