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Makelele to remain with Real despite defiance
Madrid, Aug 15: Real Madrid insist Claude Makelele is staying at the club despite the protest by the French midfielder to improve his salary.
Madrid, Aug 15: Real Madrid insist Claude Makelele is staying at the club despite the protest by the French midfielder to improve his salary.
Real Madrid midfielder Claude Makelele continued his rebellion over a demand for a substantial pay rise when he failed to attend squad training on Thursday (August 14).
The French international, who also refused to train on Wednesday (August 13), kept his protest despite the club's decision to discipline him for his action. He told sports daily Marca on Thursday: "Right now I am not even thinking of training or anything like it. I don't feel right and when you feel like that it is best not to force yourself."
Makelele has been called up for France to play in next week's friendly against Switzerland after missing the Confederations Cup through club commitments.
Real Madrid sporting director Jorge Valdano said that Makelele's refusal to train with the rest of the squad would result in disciplinary action and he would not now meet with representatives from Chelsea who were due to travel to Madrid on Monday.
"He will be disciplined and the meeting with Chelsea is not possible. Makelele will stay at Real Madrid," Valdano said
Makelele joined Real Madrid from Celta Vigo in August 2000 for $13.7 million US dollars. He has been one of Real's most influential players in recent seasons, performing a vital ball-winning role in midfield and it would be a major surprise if the club decided to release him.
Team mate Iker Casillas told a news conference after training on Thursday (August 14) that he understood why Makelele is refusing to train.
"It was his own decision and we must respect it and accept it and being a team-mate, it is a situation that could also happen to me."
The Real Madrid keeper added Makelele was one of the most important players in the squad.
"He is a player that people notice on the pitch whether he is (playing) good or bad. During the past few years, he has been seen as a player of vital importance and in my opinion, I think he helps improve our game quite a lot."
With the player's father following the crisis closely in Spain, Makelele's agent Marc Roger said the player had started the protest because he felt undervalued by the club after they refused to grant an improvement in his contract.
Roger told reporters on Wednesday (August 13) that "if they (Real) continue to pay him the same amount then I'm sure he will not stay.
"He can't carry on like this. There are players in the squad like (David) Beckham who are earning five times as much as him."
Roger said that premier league side Chelsea had made an offer of 10 million euros ($11.28 million US dollars) for the player and that he had been assured by Real in the past that if he managed to secure such a sum then they would release him from his present contract, which expires in June 2006.
Bureau Report
"He will be disciplined and the meeting with Chelsea is not possible. Makelele will stay at Real Madrid," Valdano said
Makelele joined Real Madrid from Celta Vigo in August 2000 for $13.7 million US dollars. He has been one of Real's most influential players in recent seasons, performing a vital ball-winning role in midfield and it would be a major surprise if the club decided to release him.
Team mate Iker Casillas told a news conference after training on Thursday (August 14) that he understood why Makelele is refusing to train.
"It was his own decision and we must respect it and accept it and being a team-mate, it is a situation that could also happen to me."
The Real Madrid keeper added Makelele was one of the most important players in the squad.
"He is a player that people notice on the pitch whether he is (playing) good or bad. During the past few years, he has been seen as a player of vital importance and in my opinion, I think he helps improve our game quite a lot."
With the player's father following the crisis closely in Spain, Makelele's agent Marc Roger said the player had started the protest because he felt undervalued by the club after they refused to grant an improvement in his contract.
Roger told reporters on Wednesday (August 13) that "if they (Real) continue to pay him the same amount then I'm sure he will not stay.
"He can't carry on like this. There are players in the squad like (David) Beckham who are earning five times as much as him."
Roger said that premier league side Chelsea had made an offer of 10 million euros ($11.28 million US dollars) for the player and that he had been assured by Real in the past that if he managed to secure such a sum then they would release him from his present contract, which expires in June 2006.
Bureau Report