Former Brazil captain Socrates has been readmitted to a Sao Paulo hospital suffering from internal bleeding, according to reports.
The 57-year-old was first admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital on August 20 suffering from the same problem, and was released 10 days ago.
But Brazilian newspaper O Globo, quoting a hospital statement, confirmed on Tuesday that Socrates had been rushed back into intensive care, placed on a ventilator following a recurrence of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and that his condition is considered serious.
O Globo also quoted an interview given by the former midfield great following his initial hospitalisation, in which he revealed his condition was the result of alcohol abuse.
"I paid for the [drinking] problem," he said.
"The liver becomes inflamed and does not let anything past. It's like a dam, and it'll have to blow up somewhere.
"In my case, it exploded in my stomach."
Socrates is regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation, a cultured midfielder who won 60 caps for the Brazil national side, scoring 22 goals.
He captained the Selecao at the 1982 World Cup, and also played at the 1986 tournament in Mexico, although never managed to win football's biggest prize.
His club career included spells at Botafogo, Corinthians, Fiorentina, Flamengo and Santos, while in 2004 he famously came out of retirement at the age of 50 to make a one-off substitute appearance for English lower-league side Garforth Town.
Source: PA
