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 Sunday, 11 August, 2002, 16:40 GMT 17:40 UK
Cuper keen to keep Ronaldo
Ronaldo and Hector Cuper
Ronaldo and Cuper are rumoured to have fallen out
Ronaldo's future with Inter Milan remains in doubt, according to coach Hector Cuper.

The Brazilian revealed earlier this month that he wants to leave Milan, and a move to Real Madrid looked likely.

Both Ronaldo's agent and the Spanish club have since denied the transfer will happen, but the speculation continues.

"I don't know if he's going to stay," said Cuper.


This will have to be resolved before Ronaldo rejoins the squad
Hector Cuper
"I understand he and the club are talking, to see if there's a possibility of him going to another club, to Real Madrid or somewhere else.

"I imagine that if there is a possibility (of him leaving) there will be negotiations."

Ronaldo has been training alone since returning to Milan and will not rejoin the rest of the squad until his situation is sorted out.

"The training is not an issue," said Cuper. "He arrived back later than everyone else and he'll need a few days of preparation.

"I'd like to get this sorted out now but it's not the sort of thing that's resolved from one day to the next.

"What's clear is that this will have to be resolved before Ronaldo rejoins the squad."

Ronaldo has been under pressure since returning to Milan
Ronaldo has been under pressure since returning to Milan

There have been suggestions in Italy that the Brazilian World Cup winner and his Argentine coach have fallen out.

But Cuper insisted that was not the case and took the opportunity to point out that Inter had helped Ronaldo through several years of injuries.

"I've always thought that a player should stay at a club only if he's happy," said Cuper.

"Whenever a club is without an important player something is lost.

"I'm not sure if you could recover what you've lost with another player because there are very few players in the world like Ronaldo.

"I want Ronaldo to stay. The team has been built around him and he's a very important player for this club.

"I've never seen anything to suggest that Ronaldo is not happy here.

"Quite the reverse.

"What I have seen is that people here have achieved the impossible, doing some things right and making some mistakes, obviously, to get Ronaldo back playing after three years of injuries.

"The fact is he has got back playing. That success is down to him but a lot of people here have worked as well."


European news

See also:

07 Aug 02 | Europe
04 Aug 02 | Europe
03 Aug 02 | Europe
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