Makelele's Real career in danger warns Valdano

Real Madrid's French midfielder Claude Makelele has put his footballing future in jeopardy by defying the Spanish champions and joining his French teammates in Switzerland for an international friendly, Real sporting director Jorge Valdano said.

Makelele is refusing to train with Real Madrid due to a salary dispute, and the 30-year-old was warned by Valdano at the weekend that he was not authorised to travel for the match.

"The club will be uncompromising. What Makelele has done is a serious act of indiscipline and I hope that it will be considered as such as well by the club's legal service," Valdano told Marca radio.

"Gradually as he misses his obligations the penalty will increase," threatened Valdano.

And he insisted that Makelele would not wear the jersey of a club other than Real Madrid.

"He has an ongoing contract and as such can only wear the Real jersey. We are not planning that he changes team," added Valdano.

Makelele is said to be unhappy with what he rates are his low wages compared to the salaries of the club's high-profile stars like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane and Raul, and was trying to force a move to English Premiership bigspenders Chelsea, who have since distanced themselves from a deal.

And Makelele told sports daily Marca Tuesday he was confident that something could be arranged.

"Everything is going to be sorted out. Something very important and very good for everyone is going to happen shortly," added the Congo-born player.