Ronaldo 'out for three months'
Cristiano Ronaldo faces up to 12 weeks out after ankle surgery
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Friday, 11, Jul 2008 10:27
Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed he will be out for up to 12 weeks as he recovers from surgery on his injured ankle.
The Portuguese international was forced to go under the knife in the Netherlands last week to repair a long-standing problem with the joint, which he requested be put off until after Euro 2008.
The timescale given, which is yet to be confirmed by the club's medical staff, could mean Ronaldo being out until the middle of October.
This would rule him out of the start of United's Champions League defence, as well as tricky Premier League trips to Liverpool and Chelsea in September.
"It's confirmed I'll be out of action for up to 12 weeks but recovery is going well," Ronaldo is quoted as saying to reporters in Portugal.
"I must focus on my recovery. I'll be training with a ball in two months."
The 12-week recovery period is longer than initially expected, and sources suggest it could put a damper on interest in Ronaldo from Spanish champions Real Madrid, who have been linked with a world-record approach for the player this summer.