RONALDO OFF TO PORTUGAL

Last updated : 02 September 2004 By editor

The Guardian reports:

‘Manchester United have failed to secure Cristiano Ronaldo's release from Portugal's two World Cup qualifiers next week and fear the teenager may succumb to a hernia problem if he is forced to play.


‘The United assistant manager Carlos Queiroz and the club doctor Mike Stone flew to Lisbon on Tuesday evening for talks with Luiz Felipe Scolari but failed to convince the national coach that Ronaldo should be excused from the games against Latvia and Estonia.


‘"Clinically we can't say that he is unable to play but Ronaldo has been complaining about some discomfort and it could develop into something significant," said Stone, who saw Ronaldo substituted in Monday's draw with Everton complaining of a sore groin.


‘Ronaldo will now undergo regular checks and the national team doctor Henrique Jones said: "He's got the first signs of a groin strain but I'm sure he'll be available to play."’