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AC Milan striker Ronaldo admits he is preparing himself for the
worst after suffering a serious knee injury two weeks ago.The 31-year-old
ruptured tendons in his left knee against Livorno and knows he must face up to
the fact he may never play competitive football again.
"I have to be prepared for the possibility of retiring," Ronaldo told Brazilian
television show Fantastico. "I know it won't be easy. It will be a very tough
recovery and something might happen during the recovery period which means I
cannot play again.
"But I will leave that possibility aside until the end of the rehabilitation. If
then my knee still hurts every day, even after it has mended, maybe it would be
time to say goodbye to football.
"I have to make a good recovery so I can ride a bike with my son and run with
him without pain."
The World Cup winner sustained a similar injury in his other knee in 1999 and
was out for more than a year.
"As soon as I did the injury I wondered why it was happening to me again, what
had I done to deserve it," he added.
Brazilian giants Flamengo have expressed their desire to sign Ronaldo as soon as
he comes back from the injury, but the striker is reluctant to discuss the
possibility because of the uncertainty currently shrouding his future.
"It is not the best moment to talk about Flamengo or Milan or any other club,"
he said. "Logically, no club wants a 31-year-old player who has had two
operations, suffered terrible injuries to his knees and is doubtful to play
again.
"However, at the same time, I don't need any charity by any club. I just thank
God for my history in football." |
