Real's Morientes dropped as row continues to simmers

Real Madrid's Spanish international Fernando Morientes was dropped by coach Vicente Del Bosque for Saturday's game against Valladolid as the row between him and the coach simmered on.

"I considered it convenient to drop Morientes and it was for the best that he wasn't part of the squad. I think I'll keep the rest of my thoughts on this matter to myself for the moment," commented Del Bosque after Real won 3-1 on Saturday.

Morientes was Spain's starting striker at last summer's World Cup but has spent most of this season on the bench after losing his place in Real's first 11 after the arrival of World Player of the Year Ronaldo.

On Friday, Del Bosque revealed that he clashed with the striker during Real's 2-1 win in the Champions League over Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.

Television pictures showed that Morientes refused to go on as a last-minute substitute against the Germans after spending most of the second half warming up in the rain.

Some reports also said that he insulted Del Bosque on the sidelines.

"His behaviour was incorrect, which he is regrettable, but it was a moment of nervousness and I don't think he insulted me," said Del Bosque on Friday, appering to forgive and forget.

By Saturday though, the coach had changed his mind and called up Tote Lopez to replace Morientes.

Morientes, hitherto a popular player at the Bernabeu and especially because of his perceived treatment by Real after the arrival of Ronaldo, was also been criticised by some of his team mates.

"If someone doesn't want to play then he's not being very professional," fellow Spanish international Ivan Helguera said on Friday.

Morientes has turned down moves to Inter Milan, Tottenham and Barcelona this season and has three years remaining on his contract at Real.

However, the Spanish sports daily El Mundo said on Saturday that club sources had told it that Morientes would now definitely be sold in the summer.

Morientes has been at Real since 1997 and been an integral part of the team that has won the Champions League three times in the last five years.