Real Madrid star Kaka is expected to be out of action for three to four months after undergoing an operation on his left knee, his club Real Madrid announced on their website www.realmadrid.com yesterday.
Following an earlier announcement that the Brazilian had left their US training camp in Los Angeles to undergo tests in Belgium, the club confirmed that the 28-year-old had already had the operation.
Kaka had an arthroscopy which “confirmed the lesion in his meniscus on his left knee with a light impact on the cartilage”.
“(Kaka) underwent a successful operation on his left knee by the surgeon Marc Martens at the AZ Monica hospital on the campus of Eeuwfeest at Antwerp (Belgium),” said Real.
The Spanish giants said, however, the groin strain from which Kaka has been suffering, and which hampered his first season with the team, had shown “clear signs of improvement”.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s brilliant late free-kick earned Real Madrid a 3-2 win over Mexican side America in Jose Mourinho’s first match at the helm late on Wednesday in California.
Mourinho, missing Spain internationals Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Alvaro Arbeloa, Raul Albiol and Xabi Alonso, who are still on holiday after their World Cup triumph last month, fielded a competitive side for his first game in charge.
After missing two decent chances early in the game, Karim Benzema unselfishly set up Canales to score the first goal of the Mourinho era.
It came 11 minutes before half-time, but Enrique Esqueda equalised shortly after the interval following some sloppy defending by Madrid, and Vicente Sanchez side-footed home on the hour to give the Mexicans the lead.
But Mourinho’s side hit back through substitute Gonzalo Higuain moments later and Ronaldo secured a debut victory for the Portuguese coach with a superb free-kick 10 minutes from time.