Doctors are optimistic Ronaldo’s career will not be over after the former three-time World Player of the Year severed a tendon in his left knee during a Serie A match against Livorno on Wednesday. Pietro Volpi, Inter Milan’s club doctor between 1995 and 2000, believes Ronaldo can recover from knee surgery just as he did after suffering the same injury to his right knee in 1998 and 2000.
“It is a very serious injury, but it can be repaired and technology has made huge steps in recent times,” Volpi said. “A recovery will probably take between eight and 10 months, but I wouldn’t be so pessimistic about Ronaldo’s future. The real problem is that he is eight years older than he was in 2000 and that makes it harder to get to peak condition in sport.” Ronaldo was flown to Paris on Thursday where he will undergo surgery carried out by the same team of doctors who repaired his knee eight years ago.
The unlucky Brazilian, who has been injured repeatedly throughout the campaign, will now miss the rest of this season and most of next. His contract with Milan expires in June, but Milan officials insist they will see him through the rehabilitation process. “I spoke to [Ronaldo] on the telephone last night and I told him to believe in himself as he has such a great physical capability,” club President Silvio Berlusconi said. “At 31-years-old he is still young and I think that he can return in a number of months to being the champion of old. Everyone in the sporting community hopes that is the case.”