Ronaldo doubtful for El Clasico

Cristiano Ronaldo’s ankle injury could keep him out of the first leg of Real Madrid’s Copa del Rey semi-final against Barcelona on Wednesday.The forward, at £80m the world’s most expensive player, twisted his ankle in Sunday’s 4-0 league victory over Getafe in which he scored a perfect hat-trick – right foot, left foot and header – in just 10 minutes.

 The forward, at £80m the world’s most expensive player, twisted his ankle in Sunday’s 4-0 league victory over Getafe in which he scored a perfect hat-trick – right foot, left foot and header – in just 10 minutes.

That means that to play him at the Bernabeu on Wednesday would be a risk but the fact it is the latest installment of El Clasico may persuade Real to gamble on their star man.

Ronaldo was substituted shortly after scoring the third of his goals in a move the club described as ‘precautionary’.

 His ankle was instantly treated with ice to minimise any potential damage and there remains hope he will play but any time on the sidelines would represent a significant blow to under-pressure manager Jose Mourinho.