Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo has come to the rescue
of a young Portuguese goalkeeper.
Ronaldo offered his help after hearing that Joao Santos — an
18-year-old goalkeeper with Amora in Portugal — had suffered
cruciate ligament damage in his left knee.
Santos originally intended to finance the operation himself by
auctioning a pair of boots given to him by Ronaldo when he was at
Sporting Lisbon.
The United winger was so touched when he learned of the
youngster’s plight he told him to stop the auction and offered to
pay his hospital costs.
So far Ronaldo has paid a £4,000 bill for the operation by
leading surgeon Antonio Martins at the Sant Ana Hospital in
Cascais.
He is also paying out £200 a week for Santos’ rehabilitation
sessions with the Portuguese national team physiotherapist Antonio
Gaspar.
A pal of Santos told the News of the World: “Joao knew
Cristiano when he was a very junior player at Sporting and was
given the first pair of boots that Ronaldo wore on his debut.
“Joao was going to sell the boots to raise the money but
Cristiano wouldn’t let him.
“Ronaldo’s action makes the nation feel very proud of him.”
Amora, second in the Setubal regional league, have serious cash
problems and have no masseur or doctor.
