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Madiba: No Ronaldinho or Eto'o
21/06/2007 22:16 - (SA)
Madrid - Barcelona president Joan Laporta
has been taken aback by the decision of players such as Samuel
Eto'o and Ronaldinho to miss a reception with Nelson Mandela on
the club's tour of South Africa.
"It could appear to be a bit surprising," Laporta was quoted
as saying when asked about the players' absence by the Spanish
media on Thursday. "More members of the party could have gone
but those that did go represented the club very well."
Only defenders Lilian Thuram, Oleguer, Giovanni van
Bronckhorst, Juliano Belletti and midfielder Andres Iniesta went
to visit the 88-year-old former president.
Laporta, who earlier this week admitted that the club had
suffered this season because of disciplinary problems within the
squad, said the meeting with Mandela had been a voluntary event.
"There were doubts if the event with Mr Mandela would take
place because he is an old man who does not like large
receptions," he said. "So when the event was finally confirmed
we decided that only those players that wanted to should go."
Favourites to win the league for a third year in a row,
Barcelona frittered away their lead in the title race which was
eventually won by arch-rivals Real Madrid.
- Reuters
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