Emerson asks to be left out of Real squad to play Getafe

MADRID, March 3 (Reuters) Brazilian midfielder Emerson has asked to be left out of the Real Madrid squad to face Getafe at the Bernabeu tomorrow because he is not fully fit, coach Fabio Capello said.

''Emerson isn't in the side because I spoke to him after training and he told me the shin splints he suffers from were painful,'' Capello told a news conference today.

''He said he didn't want to play with (painkilling) injections because we have two important games coming up when we'll need every player available. I don't see it as him being afraid to play in the Bernabeu.'' Emerson has been given a hard time by Real fans in recent games and Spanish media has reported that he refused to come on as a late substitute in last month's Champions League game at home to Bayern Munich.

Real play the away leg of their last 16 tie in Germany on Wednesday, with a 3-2 advantage, and face arch-rivals Barcelona at the Nou Camp in the Primera Liga the following weekend.EUTERS Reuters DH VP0025