CRISTIANO RONALDO will be out of action for at least three months, the Portuguese national team physiotherapist has said.
The Manchester United winger, the subject of a bitter transfer wrangle between the Premier League club and Spanish suitors Real Madrid, underwent surgery on his right ankle last Monday.
The physiotherapist Antonio Gaspar has confirmed the playmaker will not return to action before October.
"We are going to use everything that is possible to us and that will help him recover as quickly as possible," Gaspar told the Spanish sports daily AS. "But Cristiano Ronaldo will not be in an optimum state for the competition until 12 weeks are up. He is working very well and he is optimistic.
"These first four weeks he will do the rehabilitation work in my clinic. After the first month, the Manchester United doctors will carry out another exam."
Gaspar added: "I want it to be made very clear that I am only involved with Ronaldo's recuperation and that I am in permanent contact with the medical department at Manchester United, with the Dutchman Niek van Dijk (who performed the operation) and with Henrique Jones (the Portugal team doctor).
"Any other information or the medical aspect about his injury are only and exclusively the concerns of Manchester United."
Robinho, meanwhile, insists he wants to stay at Real Madrid next season and not be used in any deal to bring Ronaldo to the Bernabeu.
Robinho's future in Spain has been cast into doubt with media speculation suggesting he could be the fall guy in Madrid's pursuit of the Manchester United ace.
One option appears that Robinho will be sold to another club in order to help fund a big-money bid for Ronaldo, while it has also been mooted that the 24-year-old Brazilian could be included in a part-exchange deal for the Portugal international.
But Robinho, who has been linked to Chelsea, is adamant neither of those options is preferable to him, telling AS: "I hope to remain at Real Madrid this year. Now I am only thinking about Madrid. I am not prepared to enter into the operation to sign Cristiano."
United meanwhile hope to make progress this week in their pursuit of Tottenham's Dimitar Berbatov, for whom they have made a €30-million offer.
Sampdoria claim Andriy Shevchenko would be happy to join them, if they can agree on the Chelsea striker's wages for a season-long loan.
Reports in Italy have linked Sampdoria with a bid to sign the €45 million flop on loan for the coming season.
Shevchenko's future at Stamford Bridge continues to be the subject of speculation after his failure to sparkle during two years at Stamford Bridge.
His former club AC Milan have expressed an interest in signing the Ukrainian on loan, but their Serie A rivals Sampdoria are also keen.
According to general manager Beppe Marotta, the major issue concerning a move for Shevchenko is the size of the 31-year-old's pay packet.
"We have a way to resolve our problems up front with a figure able to stir up the crowd as well as put the ball in the back of the net," Marotta said.
"Sheva would be happy to join us, but there are problems around his wages. Many top-class players like Sampdoria and a deal is entirely plausible, so never say never."
Antonio Cassano joined Sampdoria in a similar arrangement from Real Madrid last summer and flourished, while Hernan Crespo and Giampaolo Pazzini have also been linked with moves.
Marotta added: "Let's just say they are in the same situation as Sheva. The Cassano move is a difficult thing to replicate, but never say never."
Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has vehemently denied the club have agreed a deal with Liverpool to sell Gareth Barry.
Reports suggested the England midfielder was moving closer to completing his protracted move to Anfield after a bitter tug-of-war between the clubs.
O'Neill is holding out for €27 million for the midfielder, a price Rafael Benitez is reluctant to pay in a straight cash deal.
Various cash-plus-player deals have been speculated upon but O'Neill insists Liverpool have failed to make a renewed bid in the last week. The former Celtic boss said: "There is not a grain of truth in this story that the club or Randy Lerner agreed any deal with Liverpool.
"We have waited over a week for them to come back to us and respond to our price for Gareth. They know what it is but their original offer hasn't changed."
Villa, who will play Odense BK in the third and final round of the Intertoto Cup, are confident the American goalkeeper Brad Guzan will soon be granted a work permit and formally become their second signing of the summer. O'Neill, is eager to add the Chivas USA goalkeeper to a squad already been bolstered by the arrival of the midfielder Steve Sidwell from Chelsea.
Villa failed in an attempt to sign Guzan in the January transfer window when he was refused a work permit, but O'Neill is heartened by the 23-year-old's recent international outings and believes they should be enough to meet the Home Office's criteria.
