Helguera fined for slamming Makelele departure

Midfield ace Ivan Helguera has been fined by Real Madrid after criticising the club for allowing the departures of Claude Makelele, Fernando Hierro and Aitor Karanka.

Helguera, who has been fined a undisclosed sum by Real, told Saturday's edition of the ABC newspaper that the club had failed to bring in the right men since Frenchman Makelele left in controversial fashion for English Premiership side Chelsea.

"Since Makelele left we've got no-one to carry out defensive duties. (David) Beckham does his job, but he's not as defensive-minded a player."

Helguera also said the side were missing former captain Hierro, who parted company with the club last May the day after Real won their 29th league title.

Hierro was reported to have suffered for supporting ousted coach Vincente del Bosque.

"Hierro has gone and they say he's too slow but he's the kind of player we're missing."

Real president Jorge Valdano has tried to dampen down the issue which has caught the attention of much of the Spanish media who accuse Real of restricting the player's right to expression.

"We never comment on disciplinary issues at the club," Valdano told ABC.

Makelele left Real last September after a long dispute with club management over his salary, which was far lower than the club's bigger names such as Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.

The Frenchman finally sealed his move to cash-rich Premiership side Chelsea, multiplying his salary by three or four times in the process.

Karanka was in a similar position. Having asked for a pay rise, the Basque defender was promptly offloaded to Athletic Bilbao in June 2002.