Marseille defender Souleymane Diawara has apologised for a tackle that has left Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo facing up to a month out.

"I am sorry. I am sad and it's been tormenting me these last few days. I didn't intend to injure him," the Senegalese centre-back told the sports daily AS.

He said he hoped "from the bottom of my heart that he recovers as quickly as possible."

"I was so pleased to be marking Kaka or Cristiano Ronaldo. It was a dream come true now with the defeat and everything that happened with Cristiano, it has become something dismal."

Real beat Marseille 3-1 at the end of September and Ronaldo has been injured ever since. The $94 million striker tried to play in Portugal's World Cup victory over Hungary last Saturday but lasted only 27 minutes before the ankle gave way.

According to the Spanish press, Real Madrid are less than amused to see their leading goalscorer on the sidelines with Champions league action looming.

Real reportedly banned Ronaldo from going to watch on Wednesday's final World Cup qualifier for Portugal against Malta.

"The important thing is recuperating perfectly to get over the problem," the player himself said on Real's website - though he did earlier ask for permission to make the trip.

He suffered the original problem in the Champions League win over Marseille at the end of September.