MADRID – Cristiano Ronaldo's teammates were surprised to learn their star player is unhappy at Real Madrid, as speculation continued about the Portugal forward's future at the club. Ronaldo said Sunday he was “sad” for professional reasons the Portugal forward said the club was aware of, but the former world player of the year would not elaborate. The 27-year-old's outburst remained the talking point in Spain Tuesday as media speculated whether he was referring to contract talks or problems with his teammates. “If Cristiano is sad and needs the support of his teammates, clearly he'll have it. He needs the support of the club also. At Real Madrid we are a family,” teammate Alvaro Arbeloa said. “He doesn't have the problems that the majority of Spaniards do but it's perfectly reasonable that he's sad.” Kaka also defended Ronaldo, but striker Gonzalo Higuain was mystified by his teammate's feelings, while Xabi Alonso had little to add. “I'll only speak for myself, but I'm happy,” Alonso said as he joined Arbeloa for Spain national team duty. “He is as he is.” Ronaldo joined Madrid from Manchester United for 80 million pounds (then $131 million) in 2009, signing a contract that ties him to the club until 2015. Madrid has not commented on Ronaldo's comments. Ronaldo is training with Portugal ahead of World Cup qualifying. Kaka still hopeful Kaka said he is working hard to regain the trust of Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho and has not given up hope of becoming a regular starter at the Spanish club again. The Brazil playmaker said in an interview that he has a “professional relationship” based on mutual respect with Mourinho. “I've always respected his decisions and never questioned them,” Kaka said. “I think that within every group it's normal that the coach will have more confidence in some players instead of others. But he made it clear that if I stayed at the club he would respect me and would give me as many chances as he would to the other players.” The coach used Kaka sparingly this year and most of the time didn't even include the Brazilian playmaker among the team's bench players. Kaka said he is hoping his hard work will make a difference. “I arrive ahead of time to the practice sessions and I train by myself before the group practice,” Kaka said. “I think the only way I can earn another opportunity is by practicing more than the other players, and that's what I've been doing.” Kaka dismissed recent reports by Spanish media saying that Mourinho called the Brazilian player into a meeting and told him that he was not needed by the club anymore. “The meeting happened but the published dialogue was not true,” Kaka said. “The meeting happened so we could agree on a strategy for the transfer window, a strategy which would be good for me and for the club.” Mourinho said after his Madrid's 3-0 victory over Granada in the Spanish league Sunday that Kaka is not “dead weight” on his squad. The world player of the year in 2007, Kaka said it feels like he has to start his career all over again despite his past achievements at club level and internationally. — Agencies
