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Ronaldo may have health risk again |
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July 25, 2000
MILAN (AP) - Brazil's sidelined superstar Ronaldo said he would be better off playing for Rio de Janeiro's Flamengo before returning to the rugged competition of Italy's Serie A. The 23-year-old Internazionale of Milan striker - currently recovering from a twice-injured right knee - going directly to the top Italian league could again put his health at risk, he said in a La Gazzetta dello Sport interview Monday. Earlier this month, Ronaldo's manager had raised the possibility that Inter might loan the megastar to Flamengo to help ease him back into top form. "The path of a loan must still be verified," Ronaldo said, speaking on a flight back to Brazil from a checkup with his surgeon in Paris. "If I make my comeback in Italy where the tensions are so high, sure, after the initial applause, I will be just one player like all the others. (Serie A opponents) hit you right away, they don't hold back at all." Ronaldo said he hoped Inter officials would consider the temporary transfer. After being sidelined for four months, Ronaldo returned to action in April, only to reinjury the same tendon just seven minutes after entering the game. Though he was untouched by any opponent when he crumpled to the turf with the injury, Lazio defender Fernando Couto had hit him with a hard foul moments earlier. An Inter spokesman Monday said a loan would be unlikely, because "we want Ronaldo to make a calm recovery." Doctors continue to say that Ronaldo will be ready for action by February. The soccer star said he is now able to bend the damaged knee 80 percent of the way. A two-time FIFA player of the year, Ronaldo has played in the Netherlands, Spain and Italy since leaving his native country at the age of 17. He said that "sooner or later" he will play with Flamengo, Brazil's most popular club, which has won a record five national titles. |