No risk of surgery for Ronaldo

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo has returned to his native Brazil for routine treatment on his ankle injury and will not have to undergo an operation, his spokesman Paulo Julio Clement said yesterday. Clement denied media reports that Ronaldo's injury was...

Real Madrid striker Ronaldo has returned to his native Brazil for routine treatment on his ankle injury and will not have to undergo an operation, his spokesman Paulo Julio Clement said yesterday.

Clement denied media reports that Ronaldo's injury was more serious than initially thought.

"There's no chance of surgery," Clement told Reuters. "Can you imagine Real Madrid, with all their medical infrastructure, allowing Ronaldo to come to Brazil to be operated on?"

Ronaldo suffered a partial ligament tear in his left ankle during Saturday's 3-0 Primera Liga win over Atletico Madrid, during which he scored twice.

The Spanish club said that if his recovery went according to plan, he would be able to play against Barcelona on November 20.

Ronaldo arrived in Rio early yesterday and was whisked away from the airport in a helicopter.

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