Madrid want Makelele off the pitch
Real Madrid have pleaded with France coach Jacques Santini to leave contract rebel Claude Makelele out of their team to face Switzerland in Geneva on Wednesday.
And although Lazio midfielder Ousmane Dabo has been called up to reinforce the French squad, it is believed that Santini will ignore the demands to drop Makelele.
The Madrid midfielder has refused to train with his club and is demanding either a transfer or a big pay rise, yet he has joined up with France’s squad and is ready to play in the international friendly.
According to Santini, Dabo “is not replacing any player and only comes to bolster the 20-man squad”.
Madrid do not want Makelele involved at all in Zurich, but Santini is determined not to be side-tracked by club issues and is focusing solely on the national team.
“The fax arrived in Spanish and we had to find someone to translate it,” said Santini.
“The French team’s medics had a look at it, but Makelele trained normally.
“We will see whether he plays the whole match or comes as a substitute.
“But it is also true that the contract situation of some players could change in the next few days. We will see.”
Dabo has won two caps in his career so far and is hungry for more international action.
He made his debut at this summer’s Confederations Cup, when France were not at full strength, with their Spain-based players such as Makelele and Zinedine Zidane still contesting the closing weeks of the Primera Liga.
“I am really very happy to be back with the national team,” he said.
“Everyone is there, which was not the case during the Confederations Cup.”
