Real legend Alfredo Di Stefano has declared Anelka "unworthy" of the Madrid club. He told Spain's Antena 3 television station, "It's Anelka who must fit into the club and not the club to him. He has been with the club for seven months and he has shown nothing."

But the most damning words so far come from one of the directors of the Spanish club. Jaime Ussia said after the board meeting which decided Anelka's punishment, "If we had known what Anelka was like of course we would not have signed him. We are masochists in this case." Indeed, if only you'd known, if only you'd read ArseWeb or any of the many other websites and fanzines which were opening laughing at you while you negotiated with him....

Ussia goes on, "The board considers that we must maintain the principle of discipline in the club. What has happened is very serious. Anelka continues to be separated from the club and the decision to return to training remains primarily with him. If he wants to continue training so as not to lose form and if the coach and the director general of sport, Francisco Pirri, agree, then okay. This has not been an easy decision. We have analised the situation after considering all the evidence. The decision was unanimous."

In reply to the question of whether Anelka could be leaving Real in the near future, Ussia said "That's possible, but his leaving the club depends on everyone - the player, his colleagues, and the board. It is still too earlier to say more. The player has upset all our club members. We think he's a great footballer, but we know that something has happened to stop him operating as a footballer for Real Madrid and it is not because of a lack of help. His fellow players have been helping all the time, but he has not responded. Above Anelka is the name of Real Madrid. Everyone expected this punishment. Everyone was surprised by the player's behaviour."

Today is Anelka's 21st birthday. Less "key of the door" than "lock the door and throw away the key", methinks.