Ronaldo to skip ICC as Barca bring stars

0

Cristiano Ronaldo will play no part in the International Champions Cup, but fans in the United States are set to see Barcelona trio Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Real Madrid named their 26-man squad for the USA tour on Tuesday and four-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo was a notable and expected absentee.

Ronaldo, 32, featured at the Confederations Cup in Russia, though he left the tournament before Portugal’s third-place play-off match to be with his newborn twins, having helped Madrid to La Liga and Champions League glory.

Alvaro Morata is also in the travelling party, despite widespread speculation of an imminent departure from the Spanish and European champions.

Morata was tipped to join United before they turned to Romelu Lukaku, and Premier League champions Chelsea have now emerged as a likely destination for the Spain forward.

Zinedine Zidane’s Madrid will open their ICC campaign against Manchester United on July 23. As Barca open their ICC campaign against 2016-17 Champions League runners-up Juventus in New Jersey on July 22.

Real and Barca will face each other in an International Champions Cup Clasico in Miami on July 29.

Goal