European Football

Unsettled Robinho out of Real squad for season opener

14:45 BST, Sat 30 Aug 2008
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Robinho of Real Madrid celebrates a goal during his team's friendly soccer match against Eintracht Frankfurt in Frankfurt August 12, 2008.  REUTERS/Alex Grimm (GERMANY)

MADRID, Aug 30 (Reuters) - Robinho was left out of Real Madrid's squad on Saturday for their Premera Liga season opener at Deportivo Coruna, with the player's future at the club hanging in the balance.

The Brazil forward wants to join Chelsea in the English Premier League, but the Spanish champions have failed to find a suitable replacement and are reluctant to let him go.

Spanish media have reported that Real are holding out for around 40 million euros, and that Chelsea have not met that valuation despite continuous negotiations over the last few days and Robinho's agent claiming a deal was imminent.

"I would like the theme (Robinho's future) to be wrapped up now, but it isn't. He will not travel to La Coruna," Schuster told a news conference.

"It is my decision not the club's. For me, he is an important player but it is also important to know what condition he will be in, and the pressure from those advising him has been strong.

"Mentally, he isn't in the best state to play. Until his future is resolved he will not be ready to either. At present, it is better for other players who are fully committed, to take his place."

Robinho sat out the Spanish Super Cup, 4-1 second leg win against Valencia last weekend, and was not included in the squad for Wednesday's Santiago Bernabeu Trophy against Sporting Lisbon, which Real took 5-3.

If Robinho fails to complete a transfer to the Premier League, however, Schuster said he would be more than happy to welcome the Brazilian back into the side.

"I would be delighted to do the dirty work of trying to raise his morale again. I am confident we would be able to do that within the group, with the support of the players, and it would be just like it always was," the German added.

Real play Deportivo at the Riazor on Sunday, and on Monday Robinho flies off to join up with the Brazil squad for international duty, the same day as the summer transfer window closes.

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