Brazilians say he's on his way to Hong Kong; Real Madrid say otherwise
Is Brazilian superstar striker Ronaldo coming to Hong Kong for this week's Carlsberg Cup or not? That seems to be the question on everyone's lips as speculation mounts that he may miss the trip here.
Real Madrid say the three-times World Footballer of the Year will be staying put and will miss the Hong Kong match, while the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) says he's coming, indeed is already on his way.
News wires reported Real Madrid yesterday as saying they had reached an agreement for the striker to remain in the Spanish capital. The club had made the decision to keep the player at home to avoid his having to make another long trip after recently returning from Brazil because of a family illness.
But organisers insisted Ronaldo was already on a Hong Kong-bound flight.
'As far as the CBF is concerned, Ronaldo is coming and he is expected to be on the plane coming here,' said ProEvents chief executive Julian Kam.
'If he really doesn't come to Hong Kong, Ronaldo would have to explain to himself to the CBF and he would have to have a very good reason why he can't come.