Real Madrid striker Ronaldo is to undergo a
surgery on his left shin bone (tibia) Saturday.
It was confirmed Thursday that Brazilian national team physician Jose
Luis Runco will perform the surgery here and Real Madrid medical
director Alfonso del Corral will follow the operation.
On July 5, Runco said that Ronaldo had been suffering from pain in the
knee for eight months due to two calcifications in his tibia and that
the player would probably take advantage of the break after the World
Cup to undergo the surgery.
The physician also said then that the injury may have been caused by
trauma or by work overload.
The confirmation of the surgery contradicts declarations of Real Madrid
executives two weeks ago, saying that the striker only needed to rest to
recover from the pains.
The surgery consists of a scaling in the affected area.
Ronaldo is expected to be back to the pitch in August, when Real Madrid
will play against Real Salt-Lake in the US as a preparation for the
2006/2007 Spanish and European leagues.