Valdano can live without club championship

Real Madrid sports director Jorge Valdano believes that Fifa's decision to suspend this year's World Club championship could be a blessing in disguise. "The players will be happy as they will have more time to prepare for the start of next season," he said.

The championship was due to take place in La Coruna this July and August but the Brazilian company Traffic have found no takers for the television rights to the competition they purchased for £48 million.

Fifa couldn't afford to bankroll the tournament themselves and were left with no alternative but to pull the plug on the football festival.

"We were ready to play but we know it's very difficult for Fifa to make money from the tournament and we accept the decision."

But the former Argentina international was concerned that Fifa have yet to confirm the decision.

"We haven't had any official notification from Fifa yet," he said. "And that's strange because the first people they should inform are those in the country of the competition."