REDONDO - Light at the end of the tunnel?
8.10 || ART

Passage taken from article on www.acmilan.it:

"ROME (October 8, 2002 10:01 a.m. EDT) - Former Argentina international Fernando Redondo is just weeks away from making his AC Milan debut, two years after arriving at the San Siro from Spanish giant Real Madrid, the player confirmed Tuesday.

Redondo, who cost Milan $11 million when he moved from Spain in Aug. 2000, damaged ligaments in his right knee in preseason training soon after joining the 'Rossoneri'.

But after several operations he is close to making a full recovery and suffered no reaction in Monday's friendly between Milan and Dinamo Zagreb in which he played 40 minutes.

The game was a farewell match for former 'Rossoneri' star Zvonimir Boban which featured players past and present from both clubs.

"The only thing I can say is that I feel ready, I am getting past the psychological block which is inevitable after such a serious injury," Redondo said on the club's official Web site, www.acmilan.it.

"I have to have treatment for another month in Belgium and then I can return to Milanello (AC Milan's training ground)."

Redondo, 33, was named as Champions League player of the year in 2000 by UEFA for his part in Real Madrid's win in the competition that season.

A couple of years ago, this guy was one of my favourite players in the game. He had a hand in making me a fan of Real Madrid, and along with Batistuta, the Argentinean national side. His capture from Real, was in actual fact, an inspiring one, which promised much. After all, he was a two-time Champions League winner. Just the sort of player Milan needed.

But almost straight away, he succumbed to long-term injury, and after two years at the club, has yet to make his first team debut. It remains to be seen how much success he will have in breaking into the Rossoneri first team and holding down a regular place, especially in light of the recent run of form that the team is experiencing.

However, i will be hoping that 'Nando can reproduce his success of yesteryear, and prove the doubters wrong. If anything he deserves it.

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