Butragueno backs Woodgate to shine

Real Madrid vice-president Emilio Butragueno believes Jonathan Woodgate will play a vital role for the club this season.

The 25-year-old defender is with the rest of the Madrid squad at their training camp in Austria, putting the finishing touches to his long recovery from the thigh injury he picked up in April 2004.

That injury stopped him playing at all last season and although his recovery appears to be going to plan, there have been rumours that after selling Walter Samuel to Inter Milan, Madrid were looking to sign another central defender should he suffer a further relapse during the season.

However Butragueno says this is not the case.

He told www.realmadrid.com: “I would not change this squad and these players for any others in the world. We have a balanced side, with a lot of adaptable players and each position well covered.”

The Madrid vice-president insisted that Woodgate’s dedication meant there was no need to bring in any new faces.

“Woodgate is going to surprise a lot of people, because he is going to be one of our great reinforcements of the year,” he said.

“Woodgate has made a lot of sacrifices and now the time has come for him to find his reward. Our central defenders are a total guarantee and they are going to show that.

“We have not made any offer for any players who play in that position.”