Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo has found an unlikely ally in the shape of former Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Ronaldo has created something of a storm lately after admitting his “sadness” at his situation at Real.

With untold riches to his name, few can understand the route of Ronaldo’s turmoil, but Laporta has crossed the divide between the two old rivals to say that he can.

He said: “I don’t know why he is sad. Everyone is on his back. I understand the lad is under a lot of pressure. He’s human and everyone is affected by what goes on around them.

“I think Cristiano is a fine professional. Real will ensure he gets his happiness back.”

Arnautovic rues glaring miss

From injuring himself playing with his dog to being banned by Werder Bremen for fighting in a nightclub, there is rarely a dull moment when Marko Arnautovic is around.

On Tuesday, the striker found himself in the spotlight again after his glaring late miss cost Austria the chance to draw with Germany and avoid their eighth successive defeat against their neighbours.

“I want to apologise to the whole country. It was my mistake. It was a perfect ball to me, so there is no excuse.

“We were clearly superior and... the Germans won with luck,” Arnautovic said.

Aguero back

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero is back in training after recovering from a knee injury.

Aguero, 24, has not played since City’s first league game of the season, when he was taken off after being hurt in a challenge by Southampton defender Nathaniel Clyne at the Etihad Stadium.

Manager Roberto Mancini has since said he hoped Aguero would be fit after the international break although it remains to be seen if the forward can make his comeback in time for Saturday’s trip to Stoke.

City then go to the Bernabeu Stadium on Tuesday to begin their Champions League campaign against Real Madrid.

Kagawa plays down back injury

Japan playmaker Shinji Kagawa has tried to play down a back injury which ruled the Man-chester United midfielder out of Tuesday’s 1-0 win over Iraq in a World Cup qualifier.

The 23-year-old pulled out of the game in Saitama an hour before kick-off having felt a twinge in his lower back during training the previous day.

“I underwent treatment for as long as possible before the match,” said Kagawa.

“I felt a twinge and didn’t want to take the risk. It’s not a serious injury and I don’t think it will keep me out for long. I can walk but if I put strain on it it still hurts.”

Zambrotta has Flamengo offer

Gianluca Zambrotta could resume his playing career in Brazil after the former Italy international confirmed he had received an offer from South American giants Flamengo.

The 35-year-old is a free agent after leaving Milan in June, but is yet to find a club.

“I’d like another experience abroad and the South American option, to go and live in Rio, would be the maximum,” Zam-brotta, who also played for Bar-celona, said.

“Let’s say that we are talking about it. For my family and I, as a professional and life experience, going there would be great. We’d like such an opportunity.”

Granero puts studies on hold

Esteban Granero has decided to place his psychology studies on hold following his transfer to QPR.

Granero, a £9 million signing from Real Madrid on the penultimate day of the transfer window, had been enrolled at a university in the Spanish capital.

But the 25-year-old midfielder, who is also a keen student of literature, has interrupted the course in order to focus his attention on QPR.

“I only have one or two years left, but now I’m taking a break,” he said.

Granero was highly-rated at the Bernabeu but found first-team opportunities limited due to the number of household names in Real’s midfield.

Jovetic snubbed Juve and Man. City

Stevan Jovetic confirmed that he turned down offers from Juventus and Manchester City this summer to stay at Fiorentina.

“I spoke to president Della Valle and he convinced me to stay, but we set off from a good base as I already knew that I would remain,” he said.

“Juventus did come after me with some insistence and it is normal to think about it when you are offered Champions League football.

“However, there was no reason to go as I love Florence and this club.

“As regards City I stopped negotiations as I had already made up my mind to stay here.”