Lingering injury sidelines Ronaldo for a month

 La Gazzetta dello Sport Monday reported that the AC Milan striker later this week was due to rejoin his club from Brazil, where he flew to treat a pulled muscle in his left thigh.

 Ronaldo, who turns 31 on September 22, injured himself on July 31 and was diagnosed to have suffered a minor damage to a flexor muscle by Milan doctors.

 His recovery, however, lasted longer than the expected week, causing him to miss the Serie A start in late August and the following European Super Cup game that Milan won 3-1 against Sevilla.

 Amidst rumours of a row with Milan doctors, last week Ronaldo was examined by doctor Marc Martens in Antwerp, Belgium, and at the weekend flew to Brazil to begin treatment with Jose Ruiz Runco, the chief medical officer of the Brazilian national team.

 Runco reportedly injected a small amount of Ronaldo's own blood into the injured muscle, a procedure which is not allowed in Italy, but which should speed up the recovery of the footballer.

 Milan doctor Jean Pierre Meersseman said the first evaluation, which was confirmed by a number of specialists he consulted, was wrong as it underestimated the problem.

DPA