Ronaldo on track to return to training on Friday

Reuters - Wednesday, November 18

MADRID - Tests on Cristiano Ronaldo's injured ankle have shown the Real Madrid winger's recovery is going according to plan and he should be back in full training on Friday, the La Liga club said.

Ronaldo, who has already begun light training apart from the rest of the squad, was examined on Tuesday by Real medical staff and Dutch doctor Niek van Dijk, who treated the same ankle last year, the club said on their website .

Ronaldo was hurt in late September and aggravated the injury playing for Portugal 10 days later. He has not played since but could return for Saturday's La Liga game with Racing Santander or the Champions League match against FC Zurich on November 25.

Ronaldo resumes training, may play against Zurich

Real Madrid's Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo warms up as he takes part in his first training session after recovering from an ankle sprain in Madrid. Ronaldo resumed training on Monday, several weeks after suffering an ankle injury, and may be fit to play against FC Zurich in the Champions League next week.

MADRID (AFP) - – Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo resumed training on Monday, several weeks after suffering an ankle injury, and may be fit to play against FC Zurich in the Champions League next week.

The world's most expensive player has said he hopes to play against Racing Santander in the league this weekend.

But Real does not want to risk him so soon, and he is expected to take the field again on November 25 against Zurich, before playing in the "clasico" match at Barcelona four days later, the club said.

The Portuguese winger was among a dozen or so players training on Monday, the others being absent due to international commitments.

Ronaldo injured his right ankle in Real's 3-0 Champions League victory over Marseille at the end of September and aggravated the problem while playing for Portugal on October 10.

Ronaldo hopes to play in 'clasico'

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Real Madrid's Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo (R) having his right ankle checked by the team's doctor Henrique Jones (L) in Lisbon, on November 10. Ronaldo said Thursday he was recovering well from his ankle injury and hopes to play in the "clasico" match at Barcelona on November 29.

MADRID (AFP) - – Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo said Thursday he was recovering well from his ankle injury and hopes to play in the "clasico" match at Barcelona on November 29.

"Everything is going very well, I have started running again and I think I will start training with the team next week," the Portuguese winger told Spanish media at a ceremony at Real's Bernebeu stadium.

"Of course, I want to play against Barcelona, but I want to play again before then," including against Zurich in the Champions League on November 25.

Ronaldo injured his right ankle in Real's 3-0 Champions League victory over Marseille at the end of September and aggravated the problem while playing for Portugal on October 10.

On Tuesday he was ruled out of his country's crucial World Cup play-off matches against Bosnia-Herzegovina on November 14 and 18 after undergoing medical tests on the injury in Lisbon.

Both Portugal - World Cup semi-finalists in 2006 - and Real had been locked in a battle over Ronaldo with the club insisting that he was not fit enough to travel.

Ronaldo, bought from Manchester United last summer for a world record 94 million euros, is the top scorer in the Primera Liga with five goals and in the Champions League with four.

Spanish media have reported that Real coach Manuel Pellegrini's job is in jeopardy after the team was eliminated from the Spanish Cup by third division minnows Alcorcon.