Kaka out for three months
Real Madrid have revealed that Ricardo Izecson Dos Santos Leite, or ‘Kaka’, has been ruled out of action for at least three months after undergoing knee surgery. The midfielder has gone under the knife to repair a torn meniscus, but Real manager Jose Mourinho says the club can cope with the 28-year-old’s absence.
Following his return to the club after a post-2010 FIFA World Cup holiday, Real’s medical staff discovered there was a problem with Kaka’s left knee during a routine medical exam. The Brazilian then left the team’s pre-season training camp in Los Angeles to undergo the procedure at the AZ Monica Hospital in Antwerp, Belgium.
Despite missing out on Kaka’s talents for the first few months of the 2010-11 La Liga campaign, Mourinho refused to panic. He told Spanish newspaper Marca: "If we have to lose him for a while, it won't be a drama - we have other players. But we want him to be at 100% so he is happy. He is a player who is much loved by his team-mates - he is one of the best players in the world."
Ample cover
Real have cover for the attacking midfield position in the form of Rafael van der Vaart, who played for the Netherlands in the 2010 Fifa World Cup final and played for Real when Kaka was sidelined with injuries last season. Youngster Sergio Canales was signed in the close season and will provide competition for van der Vaart while Kaka makes his recovery. The 19-year-old made his mark as he scored for his new club in a 3-2 friendly win over Club America this week.
If Mourinho decides the best way to cover for Kaka’s injury would be to move Cristiano Ronaldo to the middle of the pitch, he has strong cover for the Portuguese in new signings Ángel Fabián di María and Pedro León Sánchez Gil.
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