Real Madrid Star Cristiano Ronaldo Not 100 Per Cent Fit For Barcelona Tie

Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo is not 100 per cent fit and will play against Barcelona in El Clasico at Camp Nou on Sunday still suffering pain in the right ankle that kept him out of action for eight weeks, according to Sport.

It is suggested that although Ronaldo's return to action in the UEFA Champions League win over Zurich was a successful one the reality is somewhat different. The player spent a long time warming up on the sideline and in the 24 minutes he did play he rarely featured as an attacking force anything like what he was before the injury.

Ronaldo admitted to being tired after the game and coach Manuel Pellegrini is understood to be aware that the 24-year-old is still experiencing discomfort in the ankle so if Ronaldo does play it is likely he will be less than his best, which will suit Barca greatly.

If Pellegrini were to take the decision not to play Ronaldo in this game the pressure on him is set to intensify. Demands are such at Real Madrid that their prize asset must be included in the starting lineup for El Clasico and Los Merengues could be playing with fire as any relapse for Ronaldo could see the winger on the sidelines once again or possibly even requiring surgery.