Spanish giants Real Madrid will probably have to leave either Klaas Jan Huntelaar or Lassana Diarra out of their Champions League selection for the knock-out stages.

Spain coach Vicente del Bosque has assured out of favour striker Raul that his international exile could end “at any time.”

Real Madrid may have won the important Primera Division match with Valencia on Saturday, Rafael van der Vaart and Christoph Metzelder will be less happy after picking up injuries.

Italy boss Marcelo Lippi said Thursday he believes AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso will make a quick recovery from his cruciate knee ligament injury.

Real Madrids Mali international Mahamadou Diarra will undergo arthroscopic surgery, in which a scope with a miniature camera is inserted through a tiny incision and surgeons operate through other tiny cuts, on his right knee on Monday, the club said Saturday.

Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas has rejected a move to big-spending Manchester City, which was ready to pay a world record 150 million euros for the Spanish international, Spanish media said.

Real Madrids Brazilian-born Portuguese defender Pepe will be sidelined for up to a month due to the left leg muscle strain which he picked up during a weekend Spanish league match, the club said Monday.

Real Madrids president gave a cautious vote of confidence to under-fire coach Bernd Schuster on Monday, saying that “barring disaster” the German would stay until at least the end of the season.

Chilean legend Marcelo Salas has announced his retirement from professional football after 15 years at the highest level.

Real Madrid winger Arjen Robben might return from injury sooner than expected. The Dutchman appeared in training after only two weeks, where it was assumed that four to five weeks would be needed to recover.