South American Dispatch: Ronaldo Suffers Another Injury As Roberto Carlos Heads Home

Ronaldo’s successful return season in Brazil has been forced to come to a premature end through injury. The knock he picked up in last weekend’s match against Flamengo is not thought to be serious but he will definitely not take any part in Corinthians’ final game of the season against Atletico Mineiro this Sunday.

“It was already planned that Ronaldo would not play on the last weekend even if he had not suffered this injury. Bruno Mazziotti, Corinthians club physio said. “The holidays are just around the corner so at least he can recover on his own and won’t have to put up with me too much.”

The physio stressed that it was the slightest of knocks that Ronaldo picked up against Flamengo which will please fans who hope to see him back in action for the Copa Libertadores next season.

“We need to evaluate the severity of the injury but my first impression is that it is just a small stretch.” Mazziotti added. “There’s never a good time to be injured but at least Ronaldo now has the holidays to recover.”

The club physio is also pleased with the progress of midfielder Morais and hopes the player who had surgery in September can play this weekend.

Corinthians head coach Mano Menezes was forced to make all three of his substitutions last weekend due to injuries to his players. As well Ronaldo limping off midfielder Edu and the Argentine Escudero also withdrew in pain.

Serbian sees no sense in Flamengo move

Flamengo’s influential midfielder Dejan Petković has expressed his surprise at the club’s management decision to move the squad outside of the city of Rio ahead of their title deciding game with Grêmio at the Maracana on Sunday.

It was announced yesterday by Flamengo’s vice president Marcos Braz that the team would spend the week at Granja Comer, the training facility of the Brazilian national team. One of Braz’s reasons for the move was to prevent the club’s fans from turning up at their training ground and interfering with the team’s preparation.

Another reason was to keep the players away from the atmosphere surrounding the club’s upcoming presidential elections but Petković seemed less than taken by the idea of the move.

“At a time like this the key is to not change the squad’s preparation at all,” the former Real Madrid player said. “We should just continue doing what has been working so well up till this point. Any change just creates stress among the players.”

Petković was a lone voice in the squad to speak out about the move and one of last Sunday’s goalscorers for Flamengo was far less confrontational with his response to upping sticks.

“We have professional people who decide what is best for the squad ahead of such an important game,” Leonardo Moura said. “Our only worry as a squad is about playing football.”

Speaking about this Sunday’s game with Gremio, Petkovic warned that nothing will be easy and Flamengo will have to be at their best to beat their rivals.

“It’s a good team and they beat us in Porto Alegre,” Petkovic said. “It will be a difficult game and we have to keep our eye on the ball.”

Corinthians fans set to unwrap Roberto Carlos for Christmas

Corinthians president Andrés Sanchez has confirmed that the former Brazilian national team left back Roberto Carlos has reached a verbal agreement to join the club. In an interview with Rádio Bandeirantes the Sao Paulo club’s leader stated that he intended to officially unveil the player later this year.

“Roberto Carlos is very close, He is yet to sign a contract but he gave his word and that is enough,” Sanchez said. “First he must return from Turkey and we hope to put a shirt on him between Christmas and the New Year. At the latest he will be here in early January.”

Corinthians president was full of praise for the talents of Roberto Carlos but even he stopped short of saying that the defenders arrival would have the same impact as the signing of Ronaldo.

“Ronaldo is unique. Pele, Maradona and Zico all had their time at the top. Ronaldo is also a player who found his own unique level,” Sanchez added. “But Roberto Carlos has an enviable track record and will bring experience and quality to Corinthians. He is a player who always makes the right decisions.”

Sanchez has already secured the services of a host of quality players ahead of the club’s centenary year in 2010. Ralf from Barueri, Iarley from Goias and Tcheco from Gremio are all incoming for next season. As well as Roberto Carlos the club have not given up on bringing in Juan Roman Riquelme from Boca Juniors.