"Civil war in Madrid," said Sport daily in a front-page headline, adding the reason Guti pulled out of last week's friendly international with Ivory Coast with a leg injury was down to Ronaldo having kicked out at him following the 1-0 Champions League home leg loss to Arsenal two weeks ago.

Sport quoted a radio journalist from Onda Cero, Jose Manuel Estrada, as saying the usually close friends had had an angry exchange which turned into fisticuffs following the Arsenal match which left the club on the brink of elimination ahead of Wednesday's return at Highbury.

Ronaldo, who last month claimed the fans at the Bernabeu have never loved him, is set to feature on Wednesday. But while he is Real's top scorer in the league with ten goals suspension and injury have restricted him to just one Champions League game this season

-- when he flopped against the Gunners.

Reports suggest the Brazilian World Cup winner is heading back to Italy at the end of the season, either to former club Inter Milan or AC Milan.

He was dropped for Saturday's league derby win over Atletico in which replacement Antonio Cassano scored, but is widely predicted to be given another chance at Highbury.

"We have to win, with or without Ronaldo," goalkeeper Iker Casillas said curtly when asked if a Brazilian or an Italian might lead the line.