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.
