Cristiano Ronaldo takes The National Sport front page on Saturday, April 23 after the Portuguese forward was ruled out of Real Madrid’s Primera Liga match this weekend and is a doubt for the Uefa Champions League semi-final first leg against Manchester City on Tuesday.
Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane confirmed Ronaldo will miss his side’s visit to Rayo Vallecano to ensure he will be fit for their Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg at Manchester City on Tuesday.
The club confirmed that Ronaldo suffered a thigh strain as he hobbled off towards the end of Madrid’s 3-0 win over Villarreal on Wednesday.
However, Zidane said that he has had to convince the three-time World Player of the Year — who has been an ever-present for Madrid in the league this season — to sit out the trip to Vallecas.
“He won’t play against Rayo. He’ll stay at home and we’ll see for the next game,” Zidane said on Friday.
“He wanted to play tomorrow, but he knows that it isn’t possible. We’ve had to put the brakes on him and he knows his mind has to be on City.”
Follow us on Twitter @NatSportUAE
Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/TheNationalSport
