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| Thursday, August 15, 2002 17:04 EST |
Star striker wants to return to Spain
[Reuters]
RIO DE JANEIRO -- Ronaldo, returning to
Brazil four days earlier than planned, refused to comment on the
impasse with his club Inter Milan on Thursday, saying only that
he wanted the situation to be settled quickly.
"I hope they decide as quickly as possibly," he said after
arriving at Rio de Janeiro airport.
Ronaldo's contract with Inter does not end until 2006 but he
said in an Italian newspaper on Monday that he would prefer to
return to Spain -- where he played for Barcelona in the 1996-7
season -- because he enjoyed the more carefree lifestyle there.
Meanwhile, his agent Alexandre Martins told Reuters that
Ronaldo was not happy at Inter.
Ronaldo is in Brazil for next Wednesday's friendly at home
to Paraguay, his first game since he scored two goals against
Germany in the World Cup final on June 30 to finish as the
tournament's topscorer with eight.
The players are not due to report until Sunday and Ronaldo's
early arrival was interpreted in Brazil as another slap in the
face for his club.
"I'm looking forward to it because it's a game to celebrate
our title, I'm happy to take part," he said.
Ronaldo played down his differences with Brazil coach Luiz
Felipe Scolari, who last month described Ronaldo as a "spoilt
player" who needed to be taught how to play more for the team.
"He was the one who said it. I just defended myself." said
Ronaldo, who said at the time that some people did not know how
to conduct themselves after they had won.
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