Mario Jardel will be the other big-name absentee – after Ronaldo – from tomorrow’s Champions League duel in Lisbon between Sporting and Italy’s Internazionale.
Brazil striker Jardel, Sporting’s top scorer last season, has asked the club to loan him out for a season because he is suffering from depression after splitting with wife Karen.
Jardel had been due to meet Sporting club medical staff last night but failed to attend as expected. Barcelona have been linked with Jardel whose problems began, according to friends, after his omission by Luiz Felipe Scolari from the Brazil squad for the ultimately triumphant World Cup campaign in Korea and Japan.
Ronaldo will be missing from Inter’s line-up because coach Hector Cuper does not consider him fully match fit after an extended post-World Cup holiday.
Inter president Massimo Moratti has asked Ronaldo to think again about his stated wish to quitItalian football.
By Keir Radnedge
