Alvaro back in business

Real Madrid starlet Alvaro Benito has been declared fit and is ready to to re-join the squad for this summer's pre-season in Nyon, Switzerland.

The 24-year-old midfielder has bounced back from his fifth operation, surprising club medics with his rapid return to health.

Alvaro was widely-considered as being one of the jewels of the Real Madrid youth squad but the accident-prone star has been in and out of the B team after suffering a whole series of injuries during the past four years.

The Salamanca-born star was involved in a car accident last November leaving him with a torn
ligament and a hairline fracture of the left leg.

Real extended Alvaro's contract at the tail end of last year until June 2002, but the player may be loaned out once again before the start of the new season.