Ronaldo has ankle surgery
07 Jul 2008 - 12:10:39
Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is set to miss the opening weeks of the new season after undergoing ankle surgery on Monday.
The 23-year-old Portugal international, who has been heavily linked with a world record transfer fee move to Real Madrid this summer, went under the knife in Amsterdam in a bid to cure a long-running problem.
"He arrived here yesterday (Sunday) evening to be examined," revealed a spokesman for thee Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam.
"He'll be able to return home tomorrow."
Ronaldo, who netted 42 times for the Red Devils in all competition last season, was reportedly below-par at Euro 2008 after being dogged by the problem.
Last week, United medical staff met with the player and representatives from the Portugal national team to discuss the severity of the injury.
He is now expected to miss the next six weeks which means he will sit out at least the first two Premier League fixtures of the new campaign - against Newcastle United and Portsmouth.
However, confirmation of the surgery also suggests any potential move to Real Madrid has been scuppered as the winger would be unlikely to pass a medical before the transfer window closes on August 31.
Throughout the long-running transfer saga, the Old Trafford club have remained adamant that the former Sporting Lisbon starlet would not be leaving.
Speaking over the weekend, Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon suggested his club's interest in Ronaldo was over.
"Ronaldo has said he would like to play here, that it is a dream, that he would be excited to come to Real Madrid," he claimed.
"But it is a desire of the player which cannot be carried out without Manchester's agreement. Manchester has to want it.
"Once they decide to sell him and communicate this, we can say we are talking about a possible transfer. But as of today that is not happening."