A Real Madrid squad flew out of the Spanish capital's Barajas Airport on Wednesday morning to play a friendly game in Colombia.

Coach Bernd Schuster named a squad of 18 players, including new signing Rafael Van der Vaart for the expedition.

However, despite the absence of Wesley Sneijder, who is out of action for at least three months with a knee injury, Schuster has not included recent European champion Ruben de la Red. That will only strengthen rumors of a possible departure for the midfielder, with English sides Arsenal and Aston Villa being possible destinations.

Real arrive in Colombia in the afternoon, just in time for the only game of their brief tour, against Independiente de Santa Fe, where everything points to Van der Vaart making his debut in a white shirt.

The Spanish side return to Madrid on Friday evening and will be given Saturday off before returning to training at their Valdebebas training complex on Sunday evening.

After that they travel to Germany, where they play another friendly in Frankfurt on Tuesday night.

(Xinhua News Agency August 7, 2008)