Ronaldo - O Fenomeno

Football forward Ronaldo’s mother told the Brazilian press on Tuesday that the player’s former fiancee Maria Beatriz Antony, who left him following the scandal prompted by his involvement with three transvestites, is expecting his child.

According to Sonia Nazario, the family celebrated the news, which she acknowledged on Saturday. The information was confirmed by Antony’s father, Luiz Antony, who also talked to press on Tuesday.

However, Ronaldo, who is in Rio to recover from a knee surgery, said in an interview at a TV show on Tuesday morning that he does not know well what is going on, as he has not talked to his fiancee since the incident with the transvestites took place, in April. He also said to be amazed by “how things leak,” in relation to the first rumors over Antony’s pregnancy, released in the local press on Sunday.

Antony broke up with the Milan forward after a Brazilian transvestite called Andrea Albertino charged him with refusing to pay for her services as prostitute, which he had allegedly used ina night out in Rio. Ronaldo told the police that he thought Albertino and two other transvestites were actually female prostitutes, and that he tried to call off the service as soon as he realized the misunderstanding.

Antony, who was engaged to the player, left his apartment in Rio on the day after the scandal exploded, and moved back to her parents’ home in Brasilia.

Since then, Ronaldo has publicly admitted to his mistake, and stressed that he was heterosexual and that he did not have sex with the transvestites. According to friends and relatives, his attitude towards the incident could be helping him get Antony to forgive him.

Nevertheless, Ronaldo stressed in the interview on Tuesday that he does not know whether his former fiancee will forgive him, and added that he was still too regretful of what he did.

“I do not know what is going to happen, but I pray for everything to turn out fine,” said Ronaldo.

Ronaldo has said that he will not renew his contract with AC Milan until he is ready to play football. A lot of speculation has been placed on the Italian Club but it is now Ronaldo who does not want to commit to AC Milan until he knows he can play.

“My contract with Milan ends in June and then I will be a free player,” he told local program Fantástico. “But I do not want to negotiate with a club without knowing my real condition.”

“Then, when I am fine and ready to play, I will choose my path, which is already set in my mind.”

It is said that the club will be Flamengo has Ronaldo would like to end his career with the club he has supported since childhood.

Ronaldo has revealed on Italian TV that he is eight kilos overweight and hopes to lose most of it within a month.

“I am 1.84 metres tall and today weigh 95 kilos,” said Ronaldo.

“In the 2002 World Cup, I weighed 87 kilos and that is what I’m trying to get back to. That’s the weight I need to reach if I’m going to get back to my best.”

Ronaldo ruptured a tendon in his left knee during a Serie A game against Livorno in February and is expected to need at least another seven months to recover.

The injury was similar to two injuries to his right knee earlier in his career.

“I had to stay in bed for a month,” he said. “I am starting to use an exercise bike, I’m swimming a lot and using up more calories than I’m taking in.”

“…I think I will be close to the ideal weight in a month.”

He added: “I’m not a physiotherapist but I know what I have to do.

“My first recovery took one and a half years. I feel this time it will take much less and I think I will be back in half the time.”