Real Madrid will step up their efforts to sign Cristiano
Ronaldo and hold on to Robinho after Wesley Sneijder appeared to be
seriously injured against Arsenal yesterday. The Holland playmaker
left the pitch on a stretcher after a clumsy challenge by Abou
Diaby in the 59th minute and Bernd Schuster, the Real coach, is
worried that Sneijder could be sidelined for six months if he has
snapped a cruciate knee ligament.
“It was the last thing we wanted,” Schuster said. “It wasn’t
really a friendly – intense, a typical English game and it is not
looking good for Wesley.”
Real hope that Ronaldo will tell Manchester United that he wants
to leave the English champions when the Portugal forward returns to
England tomorrow, but denied that Robinho, the Brazil forward, has
told them that he wants to move to Chelsea.
For the fans who have made themselves aware of how eagerly
Adebayor courted Milan and Barcelona this summer, there will have
been a queasy response to his badge-kissing. Arsène Wenger
doubtless looks at it pragmatically: Arsenal cannot afford to do
without this man.
Pressed on whether Arsenal will bid for Gareth Barry, Wenger
admitted: "I like him but I also like two or three other players."
His team, who lost 1-0 to Juventus on Saturday, did not win the
pre-season Emirates Cup – that went to Hamburg, who lost to Real
Madrid then beat Juventus 3-0 yesterday. It was goals scored that
gave Martin Jol his first triumph over Wenger. Yesterday's game was
marred by a cruciate ligament injury to Wesley Sneijder that means
he will miss the whole season.
The Real Madrid manager, Bernd Schuster, complained about the
intensity of yesterday's game. An outbreak of badge-kissing would
be inadvisable for those two as well.
Arsenal (4-4-2): Almunia; Sagna, Gallas
(Djourou, 89), Senderos, Clichy; Walcott (Eboue, 66), Diaby
(Ramsey, 75), Denilson, Nasri (Wilshere, 75); Adebayor (Bendtner,
75), Van Persie (Vela, 66). Substitutes not used: Fabianski (gk), J
Hoyte, G Hoyte, Lansbury, Randall.
Real Madrid (4-2-3-1): Dudek; Salgado, Garcia,
Heinze, Torres; Diarra (De La Red, 79), Guti; Callejon (Robben
h-t), Baptista (Sneijder h-t; Parejo, 59), Robinho (Saviola, 60);
Raul (Van Nistelrooy, h-t). Substitutes not used: S Ramos, F Ramos
(gk), Metzelder, Anton.
Referee: M Clattenburg (England).
