Delayed Brazilians left out of Real, Barca squads

MADRID: The late return from international duty of Brazil’s Ronaldinho, Robinho and Julio Baptista has seen them left out of the Real Madrid and Barcelona squads for their Primera Liga fixtures today.

Forwards Robinho and Baptista missed Real’s last training session yesterday, before the trip north to face Espanyol, due to flight delays the club said.

“I am not worried because we have sufficient players to face Espanyol,” Real coach Bernd Schuster said.

Brazil beat Ecuador 5-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday.

Local media reports said Brazil players, including Ronaldinho and Robinho, staged a wild party until the early hours of Thursday morning after the game.

Crocked: Real winger Arjen Robben will be out for five weeks.

“From what I have heard, it made me laugh, but obviously it isn’t something I like,” Schuster added.

“We know these things have to stop. We will speak to him (Robinho) and find his version of events and hopefully it isn’t as it seems.”

Ronaldinho also missed Barca’s last training session yesterday and was left out of the squad to play at Villarreal.

“I have only called up 18 players because Ronaldinho has yet to arrive,” said Barca coach Frank Rijkaard. “I want to speak to him and see how he is. Perhaps we can travel with 19.”

But after Ronaldinho arrived and spoke to Rijkaard, a statement on the club’s website (www.fcbarcelona.com) said the forward would not travel with the team.

Meanwhile, Real Madrid will also be without winger Arjen Robben and defender Gabriel Heinze for their trip to Espanyol after the duo returned from international duty with injuries.

Robben will be out for up to five weeks with a torn muscle in his left thigh.

Heinze, another recent recruit, will be sidelined for up to three weeks with a torn groin muscle. – Reuters