French midfielder Claude Makelele could ruin his career if he continues his pay rebellion against Real Madrid, the club's sporting director Jorge Valdano said today.
The 30-year-old international, one of the lowest-paid players in the Real squad, has refused to train since Wednesday because the club are unwilling to grant him a pay rise or to consider selling him to Chelsea.
"Makelele is under contract to us and we want all ourplayers to meet their obligations," Valdano was quoted as sayingby Marca.com.
"What he has done is the most basic act of indiscipline for any player. If he continues like this he will be putting his sporting career in danger".
Makelele's agent, Marc Roger, said yesterday his client was unable to train at the moment and had been told to rest by his doctors."Everyone knows that Makelele is in a very bad psychological shape at the moment and very anxious," he said.
Makelele turned up at Real's training ground today to be examined by club medical staff, who later said that the player "had suffered a slight emotional upset caused by his personal and professional situation".
They advised that the player begin light training again tomorrow, but that he should not play in Sunday's pre-season match against Valencia at the Mestalla.
Earlier this week Roger told Valdano that Chelsea were interested in signing Makelele but Real's sporting director insisted the club had no intention of letting the player go.