Real Madrid's Brazilian winger Robinho said on Monday that he would not be playing for his country at the Beijing Olympic Games.
The player gave the news to the press, who were waiting at Madrid's Barajas airport from where the Real Madrid squad flew out to their training camp in Irdning, Austria.
"Sadly I will not be able to go with my national team, my club think it is better for me to have a full pre-season," said Robinho in a press conference at the airport.
Real Madrid had previously sent a fax to the Brazilian Football Confederation on Monday morning, alleging that tests had shown the player to be suffering a pelvic injury and asking for him to be left out of their squad for the Olympics.
"After taking the advice of our medical services, we understand the best thing for the Madrid player is to carry out the pre-season with the team, where he will undergo rehabilitation in accordance with his injury," said the Real Madrid website.
(Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2008)