Nov 5, 2009, 17:46 GMT
Madrid - Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be out of action for at least two more weeks due to an ankle injury, so he will miss the play-off round with Portugal en route to the 2010 World Cup.
Real Madrid said in a statement Thursday that the tests that specialist doctor Cornelius Nicolas Van Dijk carried out on Ronaldo, 24, in the Netherlands confirmed the club's diagnosis.
'We are going to continue the treatment that was being carried out in Madrid, and in 15 days he will be examined by Dr. Van Dijk again,' the statement said.
Real Madrid are very worried about the ankle injury of their star winger who sprained a ligament in his right ankle on September 30 in a Champions League match against Olympique Marsella in which he scored two goals.
He was back on the pitch on October 10, to play for Portugal against Hungary, but relapsed and left the pitch before the final whistle.
He has not played since and Real's results have suffered in consequence.
Late on Wednesday Real announced that Ronaldo would travel to the Netherlands to be examined by Van Dijk, the expert who operated upon the player's battered right ankle on July 7, 2008.
Ronaldo flew off to the Netherlands early on Thursday, amidst concern that the injury might be more than a severe sprain.
'Real Madrid's medical services have considered it essential to find out about the record of this injury and of the treatment he had at that time,' the club's statement said Thursday.
Sports daily Marca claimed on Thursday that the Portuguese winger will be out for around another month if he does not need another operation, and for around three months if doctor Van Dijk decides that another operation is necessary.
Your Talkback on this Story