Real Madrid is facing a new problem with the Copa del Rey quarter-final against Athletic Bilbao approaching, as it will miss a number of its key players.
Juninho, director of the Brazilian Football Confederation, refused to allow Real Madrid players who are with the national team to leave the team before the end of the international competition period.
South American teams will participate in the World Cup qualifiers next week, while the International Football Association Board (FIFA) has introduced an additional period for international competitions in the season calendar to make up for the time lost in the competition period due to the emerging Corona virus.
The Brazilian national team has already qualified for the World Cup in Qatar, and leads the South American qualifiers with 35 points.
The Brazilian national team will face Ecuador on Thursday, then Paraguay on February 1.
At the same time, Real Madrid will face Athletic Bilbao on February 3, in the King's Cup quarter-final.
There are 4 players from Real Madrid in the Brazilian national team, they are Casemiro, Eder Militao, Rodrygo and Vinicius Junior.
Despite this, Juninho confirmed that even in the event that the players do not appear with the Brazilian national team during the two matches, they will continue with the team until the second of next February, with the end of the international competition period, which means that there is little chance for Real Madrid to join the quartet for the ranks The team before the trip to San Mamés stadium.
He added - in statements today, Wednesday - "We will not allow the players to leave. The players must remain with us until the end of the international competition period on February 2, and based on the way they played the first match, we will discuss the possibility of their participation in the second."
"They will stay with us until the end, we are not ready to let them leave, we cannot do that, we have received requests from other clubs as well," Juninho said.
He concluded his statements by saying, "We have a few days with the players present, we must use this year from now to prepare for the World Cup."