Newcastle rubbish Real Madrid claims over crock Woodgate

Newcastle United chairman Freddy Shepherd is furious at Real Madrid claims they're responsible for Jonathan Woodgate's injury problems.

Real's medical chief Dr Alfonso del Corral claims Newcastle mishandled the injury which Woodgate suffered against Chelsea in April.

He claimed: "The problem comes from the fact that while the player was in England the injury, from which he has been suffering for five months and which has reoccurred, was not treated well."

"When he arrived at our club the muscle had atrophied and was weak - it was clearly an important problem."

"We had to scrap what he had been doing and start again in order to try and cure the problem."

"Now I'm cut up for the lad and I just hope that it doesn't destroy him psychologically because he was euphoric after all our work and told us he'd never felt so strong or fit."

"When I saw the state in which Woodgate arrived I warned Real Madrid that his thigh muscle injury put him in the 'risk' category."

"This is an honest lad whose work has been outstanding since he got here."

"He confessed to us that he had already had three or four breakdowns on the same injury while he was in England, including one immediately after returning from a specialist in Germany."

"But we were convinced that, if we started with proper treatment and rehabilitation, Woodgate's injury might heal - but sadly that has not been the case."

But Toon chairman Shepherd told The Sun: "The old Geordie saying is 'buyer beware'. It's the same if you are buying a house, a car or a footballer. You have to make sure."

"I believe Real Madrid had him checked out by four doctors in Germany and in Spain before Jonathan passed his medical."

"We're disappointed to hear what they have to say but I would not want to lecture Real Madrid on transfer dealings, they are far too experienced."