The long-awaited season debut of AC Milan striker Ronaldo could finally happen after the international break, which ends after next Wednesday’s games. “The doctors have given me good news about Ronaldo,” Vice President Adriano Galliani said earlier this week, suggesting that the Brazilian striker would be fit to play Empoli on Oct. 21.
Billed by Galliani at the beginning of the season as a “a new and improved” Ronaldo, the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year has since befallen a series of bizarre medical mishaps, including a frustrating misdiagnosis from the Rossoneri staff over a knee injury, and the discovery of a rare weight condition called hypothyroidism, which causes the Brazilian to gain weight faster than the average person. Following the misdiagnosis of his knee problem, Ronaldo returned to his hometown of Rio de Janeiro to recover.
Given Milan’s poor start to the season (2-1-4), critics have wondered whether the Rossoneri were planning a January transfer swoop, something Galliani firmly denied. “The market is closed and we have made our January transfer in Alexandre Pato,” the Milan executive said, referring to the 18-year-old former Internacional striker, who has signed for the club but won’t be eligible to play until Jan. 1.