Football This article is more than 16 years oldRonaldinho can eat what he likes if he plays well, says Saviola
This article is more than 16 years oldRonaldinho's Barcelona team-mates have responded to accusations that the Brazilian midfielder is overweight and unfit. Pictures of the 26-year-old taken after the Catalan club lost 2-1 at home to Liverpool in the Champions League on Wednesday showed a roll of fat around his waist.
"As long as he plays well I don't think there is a problem with his weight," the forward Javier Saviola said yesterday. "You will have to ask the medical staff about it as I am only his team-mate and I am not with him when he is eating his meals. If they think he is not right then they will make him train more."
Lionel Messi said: "When something goes wrong with the team they always blame Ronaldinho and when he scores a couple of goals he is the best in the world. He has scored 16 goals in the league this season so there is no reason to complain about his level of performance."
Ronaldinho's fellow Brazilian Ronaldo famously had problems with his weight at Real Madrid, leading to criticism from the media and his coach, Fabio Capello. Ronaldinho did not train with the rest of his team-mates yesterday - local media reported that he had been in the gym.
Wigan Athletic's Fitz Hall has lost an appeal against his dismissal in Wednesday's 1-1 draw at Watford and will serve an immediate three-match suspension.
The Senegalese midfielder Khalilou Fadiga, 32, has become Iain Dowie's first signing as Coventry's manager and is in the squad to play Norwich away today.
Swansea want Chester's Roberto MartÃnez, 33, to be their manager. The clubs have agreed an undisclosed compensation package for the Spanish midfielder who, if he agrees personal terms, will attend today's match at Yeovil.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTEoKyaqpSerq96wqikaJ6fpMGjrculZmtoYGx8p7HBaGltZ56axLS%2F06ipsmaVqr%2BwvMSapZ%2Bnn6mvorjL