Ronaldo to retire?

[Golden_Boy™]

There are rumours in Brazil that Milan’s injury-plagued striker Ronaldo may quit football.

The 31-year-old missed the start of the season due to a thigh problem and sought treatment in Brazil, which put a great strain on El Fenomeno’s relationship with the Milan medical team.

The Selecao star returned to action in Week 18’s 5-2 win over Napoli and bagged a brace, but his problems resurfaced when he limped off at half-time against Siena last weekend.

Ronnie will certainly miss tomorrow night’s game against Livorno and could be forced to sit out the weekend’s fixture against Parma and even the Champions League encounter with Arsenal in London.

With his contract expiring this summer, Ronaldo had been determined to earn a new deal, but his chances of doing so are fading with each week he spends in the stands.

The emergence of Alberto Paloschi and the impressive form of Alexandre Pato has seen Ronaldo’s future at the club called into question and there are reports that he has become increasingly depressed by his situation.

While there are suggestions that Ronaldo will hang his boots up, sources in Brazil insist that the three-time FIFA World Player of the Year will opt to join Flamengo in the summer to play out the rest of his career in his homeland.

link

[MRMILLWALL]

All the injuries hes had and hes still had & amazing career.

[HURLOCK]

He never should have played in the final in Paris, you could see something was wrong there!

But still for someone so young he's achieved a lot, bet he can afford to retire

[Kentucky Kid]

SEND HIM TO VILLA

[URRZZZ!!!]

I was hoping Cristiano had broken his back when I read this title.

[GresleyRam©®™]

He could always sell a few teeth as gravestones if he gets short of a few bob!

[CmonYouSpurs]

shit i hoped this was about that greasy diving portuguese twat

[URRZZZ!!!]

From the BBC:


AC Milan striker Ronaldo faces up to nine months on the sidelines after rupturing a tendon in his left knee.

The 31-year-old was carried off in tears after suffering the injury against Livorno on Wednesday.

"I don't want to say it's the end of his career because only time can decide - all we can do is stand by him," said Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

Milan face Premier League leaders Arsenal in the first leg of their last 16 Champions League tie on Wednesday.

Ronaldo, who is out of contract at the end of the season, suffered the same injury in his right knee in November 1999, lasted seven minutes on his comeback in April 2000 before taking another 20 months to make a full recovery.

Ancelotti said the whole club was worried about the Brazilian, who was named Fifa world player of the year three times and is the record scorer in World Cup finals.

"We're all very sorry and worried about what happened to Ronaldo," said Ancelotti.

"Our players all left the stadium in a hurry to go to the hospital to check on his condition, I think that's the right way to stand by a player who's suffering."

Ronaldo fell awkwardly while challenging for a ball in the air with Jose Vidigal, shortly after replacing Alberto Gilardino in the second half.

"I heard a horrible sound, like a bang, it was a strange sound," said Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia, who was close by when Ronaldo fell to the ground.

news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/europe/7244079.stm

There's the article to see it for yourself.

I'd be surprised if he comes back from this.

[PASTIE]

Anybody heard any updates on this?

[MRMILLWALL]

pastie said:

Anybody heard any updates on this?

Dutchman Clarence Seedorf believes AC Milan team-mate Ronaldo may not return to playing football after the Brazilian suffered a serious injury this week.
The 31-year-old striker needed surgery on Thursday after rupturing a tendon in his left knee against Livorno.

"He's one of the greatest to play the game and hopefully this is not the way it's going to end," Seedorf told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"I hope he makes the right decision at the right time."

Holland midfielder Seedorf said the moment the Brazil star collapsed he knew it was a serious injury.

606: DEBATE
How great a striker has Ronaldo been?

"Nobody wants to watch moments like that," said the 31-year-old, who accompanied Ronaldo to hospital.

"My heart stopped beating because it was like watching a repeat of the injury he suffered playing for Inter Milan against Lazio. His reaction was the same."

He added: "It's the third time it has happened to him - the third knee injury he has picked up. That's why I'm thinking it may be the end.

"We'll see what happens over the next six months - he now needs to focus on rehabilitation."

Ronaldo, a three-time Fifa world player of the year, suffered the same injury in his right knee in November 1999.

He lasted seven minutes on his comeback in April 2000 before damaging his knee again, which sidelined him for another 20 months.

I think within a few months he could return to being the champion that we all know him as

Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi

But AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani believes the injury is not as bad this time around.

"He is still feeling a little pain but it seems the tendon of the knee is in better shape than that of the right knee which was operated on eight years ago," he said.

"I am not a doctor and therefore I will not be making a guess at how long he will be out.

"He will need to stay in hospital about a week but after that I do not know where he will decide to go - whether he will return to Milan or go to Madrid with his son."

AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi remains hopeful that the striker will return to playing.

"I called him and told him to believe in himself. As a 31-year-old, he's very young," he told Italy's RAI TV.

"He has an extraordinary physique and I think within a few months he could return to being the champion that we all know him as."

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti added: "We're all very sorry and worried about what happened.

"I don't want to say it's the end of his career because only time can decide - all we can do is stand by him."

"He (Ronaldo) is still feeling a little pain but it seems the tendon of the (left) knee is in better shape than that of the right knee which was operated on eight years ago."

Ronaldo, who is out of contract at the end of the season, struggled with his weight at Real Madrid before joining Milan in January 2007 for £4.95m.

And Galliani added that a replacement could be signed in the Brazilian's absence in the summer.

"I am not ruling out bringing in another player but we will have to see this summer," he confirmed. "Our aim this season is to finish fourth in the league, meaning we will qualify for the Champions League."

Milan face Premier League leaders Arsenal in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Wednesday.


Try that on for size mate!

[Golden_Boy™]

Been looking on Ronaldo's official website, there's loads of people wishing him a full recovery. One of many is the Brazilian President:

Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva – a renowned football fan - has leant his voice to the words of support for Ronaldo.

"Young man, keep moving forward, stay strong, don’t give up,” wrote Lula, in an open letter to the player on on behalf of the Brazilian government.

“I have faith, just as the Brazilian people do, that you will return to the playing field and once again you'll be an example of perseverance and courage."

"Life has played a trick on you yet again. It seems that your energy and your capacity to be strong are once more being put to the test.

“But know that, like me, millions of Brazilians have seen with broken hearts your pain, your sadness and your suffering,” continued the letter.

”Just as strong as the pain and disappointment, is the strength that God has given you to persevere and overcome all the obstacles in your path.”

Here's an update re the injury:

The surgeon’s that operated on Ronaldo have said that the operation was successful but now only time will tell if he can recover and play at an elite level still. There will be a wait of at least nine months to see how he can recuperate but the medics don’t think his career is done just yet.

The latest news come from Ronaldo’s dad, Nelio Nazario, who has said that Ronaldo has already taken a few steps around his room and is happy with the progress. He is without pain which is pretty amazing for only 48 hours after surgery. He’s begun the preliminary stages of his rehabilitation although he won’t be able to run for 6 months or train hard for 9 months.

The history of Ronaldo’s injuries began in '96 at PSV. He had surgery to clean up the cartilage in his right knee and was out for 4 months. Then came the injury at Inter in '99 where he partially tore his patella tendon in his right knee and was out for 5 months. In April of 2000 he completely tore the same tendon playing against Lazio, 6 months after the initial surgery. He was then out for 11 months. In 2006 while still at Real Madrid, Ronaldo had surgery on his left leg to remove two calcifications on the tibia bone. It wasn’t urgent surgery but he was keen to have it done and was out for a month and a half.

A Brazilian doctor has come out to sensationally blame Ronaldo’s injuries on doping while at PSV. He was employed by the CBF but has since been fired for his remarks. He claims that while Ronaldo was a teenager at PSV he was given steroids in order to build up his physique for the game. The large muscle mass that developed as a result would not be supported well by his bones, joints, ligaments and tendons. He said that the repercussions of this would not be felt immediately but later on as the stress on the body would manifest itself as serious injuries 10, 15 or 20 years after. Who knows if he’s telling the truth but it would explain a lot, Ronaldo certainly got a lot bigger in a fairly short period of time. It’s either that or a huge growth spurt and a predisposed genetic condition that makes his patella tendons quite weak because it is a fairly rare injury in soccer (especially twice!), usually it’s the ACL that goes.

Ronaldo’s dream is to return to play and will return to Milan after the initial period and will determine later whether the rest of the rehabilitation will take place there or in Brazil. Apparently Flamengo are still after his services and will probably try to use this injury to take him off Milan’s hands but I hope he remains as he still has something to give to the highest level, even if that’s only watching over and guiding Pato’s rise.

Link

[PASTIE]

Not too late for him to come to Argyle yet

Thanks Liam

[MRMILLWALL]

pastie said:

Not too late for him to come to Argyle yet

Thanks Liam

Thats ok mate no need to thank me for my efforts.

[Golden_Boy™]

nerrr I got thanks from pastie ;D

AC Milan are still trying to come to terms with Ronaldo's career-threatening injury that has shaken the club ahead of Saturday's clash at Parma.

The Brazilian striker ruptured tendons in his left knee in Wednesday's 1-1 draw against Livorno and 24 hours later underwent surgery in Paris.

"We're all very sad and worried about what happened to Ronaldo," said AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti.

"I don't want to say his career is over because only time can put the word end to his career.

"From our part, we can only stay close to him. His team-mates left the stadium quickly to reach the hospital to check on his condition, I think it's the right way to stay close to a player who's suffering.

"Being close to him can help him cope at such a delicate moment of his career."

Ronaldo, who is under contract with the Rossoneri until the summer, is expected to be out of action for at least nine months.

The 31-year-old has endured an injury-plagued campaign with a muscular problem having limited him to just six league appearances this campaign for the Rossoneri.

The news was a huge blow for Milan as the injury comes at a very delicate time in the season.

[MRMILLWALL]

;D