Real deny Ronaldo will undergo knee surgery

MADRID, July 6 (Reuters) Real Madrid denied Ronaldo was to have knee surgery, saying today that doctors had simply told the Brazil striker to rest.

''Ronaldo returned from the World Cup with pain in his left knee that obliged him to be examined by Real's doctors,'' the club said on their website. ''The player has now been told to rest to preserve the tendon in his right knee.

''The Madrid doctors have made contact with Brazil doctor Jose Luiz Runco to analyse the tests done in Madrid and find out about the state of the knees. For the moment surgery has been ruled out.'' Runco yesterday said that Ronaldo had been suffering from knee pains, caused by tibial calcification, for about eight months and an operation was needed to remove the calcium deposits.

''Now at the end of the World Cup he told me he would probably use the holidays for the surgery. He's had it for eight months and every now and then he complains (of pain),'' Runco told Reuters by phone.

Ronaldo is holidaying in Europe with his family after Brazil were knocked out by France in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Real's next game is a friendly against Real-Salt Lake in the United States on August 12.

Ronaldo struggled with minor health problems and suggestions he was overweight ahead of the World Cup. But two goals against Japan and one against Ghana allowed him to break the scoring record with 15 goals in the finals.

Reuters PM GC1547