Barcelona coach denies rift with Ronaldinho
Updated: 2008-04-09 13:36
MADRID -- Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard on Tuesday moved to quash speculation about a rift between the club and an injured Ronaldinho which will reportedly see the Brazilian star leave the Spanish club at the end of the season.
"Its a pity that he is not able to join us due to injury. A pity not only for the Champions League but also for the league. As for his future, I can't predict the future but I think he still has a contract with Barcelona," he told a news conference.
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Ronaldinho, a former FIFA World Player of the Year, is under contract with Barcelona until 2010.
He has been plagued by injury and fitness problems this season that have made it his worst since joining Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain in 2003, leading to reports that the Catalan club are looking to offload the player at the end of the season.
Last week Barcelona announced Ronaldinho, 28, would be sidelined for about six weeks because he pulled a muscle in his right leg during a training session.
The Brazilian international started only 13 of the club's 30 league games this season.
Barcelona can progress to the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday if they avoid a defeat to Schalke 04 at home.
The club beat the German side 1-0 in Gelsenkirchen last Tuesday to take the advantage in their quarter-final clash.
"We're on the right track although we have to play an important match tomorrow against a good team," said Rijkaard.
"We have to be ready to face up to a Schalke side that will certainly be striving for a more direct game to get the result they need," he added.
Barcelona head into the match having been held 0-0 at home by Getafe on Sunday. The result left the club in third palce, seven points behind league leaders Real Madrid.
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