Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be out of action for at least two more weeks due to an ankle injury, so he will miss the play-off round with Portugal en route to the 2010 World Cup.
Real Madrid said in a statement Thursday that the tests that specialist doctor Cornelius Nicolas Van Dijk carried out on Ronaldo, 24, in Amsterdam confirmed the club’s diagnosis.
“We are going to continue the treatment that was being carried out in Madrid, and in 15 days he will be examined by Dr. Van Dijk again,” the statement said.
Portugal, however, were set to call on their top player for the crucial Nov 14 and 18 matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina. Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) president Gilberto Madail insisted Thursday that Ronaldo would be on the national team list that coach Carlos Queiroz is set to make public Sunday.
“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 the ankle injury of their star winger -- the world’s most expensive player, -- who sprained a ligament in his right ankle on Sep 30 in a Champions League match against Olympique Marseille in which he scored two goals.
He was back on the pitch on 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.
Late on Wednesday Real announced that Ronaldo would travel to the Netherlands to be examined by Van Dijk, the expert who operated upon the player’s battered right ankle on July 7, 2008.
Ronaldo flew off to the Netherlands early Thursday, amidst concern that the injury might be more than a severe sprain.
“Real Madrid’s medical services have considered it essential to find out about the record of this injury and of the treatment he had at that time,” the club’s statement said Thursday.
Madrid sports dailies AS and Marca celebrated the fact that Ronaldo would not, after all, need an operation on his right ankle, according to Van Dijk. The newspapers said the winger will rest for 15 days then spent 15 more days preparing to return to action.
AS and Marca were already hoping that he will be fit for the Nov 29 clash away to Liga leaders Barcelona.
