Real Madrid, Portugal clash over Ronaldo

A row has broken out between Real Madrid and the Portuguese Football Federation over whether injured forward Cristiano Ronaldo should be called up for the two-legged World Cup play-off against Bosnia.

The first leg is in Lisbon on Nov. 14 and the second in Zenica four days later. Federation chief Gilberto Madail said this week that Ronaldo wanted to play and would be joining up with the squad.

Real have said their world record signing needs two more weeks of treatment on his ankle and director general Jorge Valdano said yesterday Ronaldo would not be going.

Real coach Manuel Pellegrini said he understood Portugal's desire to call up the forward but added that in his opinion both Ronaldo and the federation knew that he would not be able to play.

"If he were able to we would have already used him," he told a news conference.

"Understandably the player is worried. I am sorry for him and for Portugal."

Ronaldo was hurt in a Champions League match against Marseille on Sept. 30 and has not played since aggravating the problem in Portugal's 3-0 win over Hungary 10 days later.

He was due to return to action around now but Real said on Thursday tests conducted by a specialist in Amsterdam who treated the same ankle last year had confirmed the diagnosis of the club's medical staff.

Ronaldo said on his way back from the Netherlands on Thursday that the ankle was getting better and that he hoped to be fit for the Bosnia play-off.

"We have to wait and see and take things a step at a time but it seems to be improving," he told Marca.