RONALDINHO'S future at Barcelona is in further doubt after a scan confirmed the Brazilian is not suffering from any injury, despite his claims to the contrary.
The former world footballer of the year sat out Barca's crucial tie with Almeria on Sunday complaining of pain in his left thigh, before training for just six minutes on Monday due to the same complaint.
But an official club statement on Monday afternoon confirmed that no evidence of injury could be found by the club's medical staff.
The statement read: "Due to the persistent troubles reported in the adductor muscle of the left leg, the player this afternoon (Monday) has undergone a scan which has revealed there is no injury in either the muscle or tendon."
The statement has drawn widespread criticism of the player in the Spanish press, adding to reports already doubting his commitment to the club.
Barcelona daily Sport in particular was highly critical, saying the statement "unmasks the player and clearly shows that the Brazilian is gradually withdrawing from the club".
The fact that Barcelona has made such an announcement official suggests that the club has finally lost faith in a player who was once the jewel in the crown at the Nou Camp.
The news has not escaped the attention of former Barca player and coach Johann Cruyff. The current advisor to club president Joan Laporta levelled a general criticism at players who allow muscle injuries to hinder the club's progress at such a crucial point in the season.
He wrote in his weekly column in Spain's El Periodico: "I'm not a doctor, nor am I involved with the Barca squad, but I'm surprised that at this stage of the season, at such a decisive moment, they needed three lads from the reserves to comprise a list."
In a poorly disguised swipe at Ronaldinho he added: "From here to the end of the season I'd like to see it that physical discomfort was not an insurmountable obstacle to pulling together."
Ronaldinho has only played seven full games in 28 league fixtures so far this season. He has been unavailable for 11.
The club says he will receive "clinical treatment to remedy the inconvenience that he feels", meaning that despite the absence of injury the player is a doubt for the second leg of Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final against Valencia on Thursday.
But an official club statement on Monday afternoon confirmed that no evidence of injury could be found by the club's medical staff.
The statement read: "Due to the persistent troubles reported in the adductor muscle of the left leg, the player this afternoon (Monday) has undergone a scan which has revealed there is no injury in either the muscle or tendon."
The statement has drawn widespread criticism of the player in the Spanish press, adding to reports already doubting his commitment to the club.
Barcelona daily Sport in particular was highly critical, saying the statement "unmasks the player and clearly shows that the Brazilian is gradually withdrawing from the club".
The fact that Barcelona has made such an announcement official suggests that the club has finally lost faith in a player who was once the jewel in the crown at the Nou Camp.
The news has not escaped the attention of former Barca player and coach Johann Cruyff. The current advisor to club president Joan Laporta levelled a general criticism at players who allow muscle injuries to hinder the club's progress at such a crucial point in the season.
He wrote in his weekly column in Spain's El Periodico: "I'm not a doctor, nor am I involved with the Barca squad, but I'm surprised that at this stage of the season, at such a decisive moment, they needed three lads from the reserves to comprise a list."
In a poorly disguised swipe at Ronaldinho he added: "From here to the end of the season I'd like to see it that physical discomfort was not an insurmountable obstacle to pulling together."
Ronaldinho has only played seven full games in 28 league fixtures so far this season. He has been unavailable for 11.
The club says he will receive "clinical treatment to remedy the inconvenience that he feels", meaning that despite the absence of injury the player is a doubt for the second leg of Barcelona's Copa del Rey semi-final against Valencia on Thursday.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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