Real seek injured Robinho´s Olympic release

Spanish champions Real Madrid said Monday they had asked the Brazilian Football Federation not to call up their striker Robinho for the Olympics in China next month because he is injured.

“The player was diagnosed with an injury this morning in his pubis so Real Madrid has asked the Brazilian Football Federation to release him from taking part in the Olympic Games in Beijing,” it said on its website.

The injury was detected by club doctors in Madrid before the squad traveled to Austria where it will take part in a pre-season training camp, it added.

The club, under the advice of its doctors, said it “feels that it would be best if the player spent the pre-season with the team where he will undergo a rehabilitation for his injury and be constantly supervised by club doctors.”

Robinho, 24, scored 11 goals for Real Madrid in the Spanish league last season. He has 15 goals in over 50 caps for Brazil's senior team.

“Unfortunately I won't be able to be with the national team. The club thinks it is better if I have a good pre-season,” he said before traveling to Irdning, Austria with the rest of his Real teammates for a 10-day training camp.

Brazil, who have won five football World Cups, are looking to win their first Olympic gold medal for the sport in China.

The country captured the silver medal in the 1984 and 1988 Olympics and the bronze medal in the 1996 Games.

The Olympic tournament begins on August 6 with the final on August 23, but the first leg of the third Champions League preliminary round is scheduled for August 12-13.