Brazil great Ronaldo has higher hopes of returning from his latest career-threatening injury because his left knee is in better shape than the right one he snapped in similar fashion in 1999 and 2000, AC Milan CEO Adriano Galliani said on Friday.
''It appears that the knee tendon was in better condition than the one that was reconstructed eight years ago,'' Galliani said a day after Ronaldo had extensive surgery at a Paris clinic.
Galliani said Ronaldo was ''suffering'' and would probably speak about his injury and his expectations ''in a few days''. He will spend about a week in the Pitie Salpetriere clinic and then start convalescing, Galliani said - either in Milan or in Madrid where his son lives.
Ronaldo, 31, will be out for the rest of the season but Milan have not started thinking about a replacement, Galliani added.
He did not discuss the possibility of Milan not offering the player a new contract when his present one runs out in June.
Ronaldo ruptured the main tendon in his knee against Livorno on Wednesday night - a very serious injury that often spells the end of players' careers.
The Brazilian three-time World Player of the Year and record scorer in World Cup history suffered a similar injury to his other knee in 1999, while playing for Milan's cross-city rival Inter.
Doctors and club officials have voiced optimism that the same team that operated on him in 1999-2000, led by French surgeon Gerard Saillant, will get Ronaldo back in shape again.
''He has extraordinary physical qualities and I think he will recover his world-class status in a few months,'' said Milan Chairman Silvio Berlusconi.
Inter Chairman Massimo Moratti said: ''He has great strength of mind and body. What's more, the doctors know him and he's been down this road before''.
Milan doctor Walter Pascale pointed out that the Paris operation in 2000 had been ''excellent''.
He added: ''Over the past eight years surgical techniques have improved considerably''.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said: ''I don't want to say it's the end of his career because only time will tell - all we can do is stand by him''.
Ancelotti said the whole club was worried about the Brazilian, who has been dogged by injuries since joining Milan from Real Madrid last summer.
The knee injury came shortly after Ronaldo replaced Alberto Gilardino in the second half.
The Brazilian fell awkwardly while challenging for a ball in the box with Jose Vidigal.
''I heard a horrible sound, like a bang, it was a strange sound,'' said Livorno goalkeeper Marco Amelia, who was close to Ronaldo when fell to the ground in agony, clutching his knee.
Despite his nagging injuries, a new slim-line Ronaldo has scored nine goals in 16 matches for Milan.
The injury on Ronaldo's other knee occurred in November 1999. Saillant repaired the break.
But Ronaldo only lasted seven minutes on his comeback against Lazio in April 2000 before the tendon snapped again.
After more thorough reconstructive surgery in Paris, he was out for another 20 months.
Returning for Inter late in the 2001-2002 season, he was soon his old self again and scored twice against Germany in the 2002 World Cup Final as Brazil became world champions for a record fifth time.
