Cristiano Ronaldo will not be fit to play until October, according to a member of Portugal's medical team.

Ronaldo is recovering from ankle surgery and Antonio Gaspar, the physiotherapist for the Portugal national football team, insists he will not play for three months.

Gaspar said: "We are going to use everything that is possible to us and that will help him recover as quickly as possible.

"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."

Ronaldo went under the knife at a clinic in Amsterdam that specialises in ankle procedures.

His recovery is being monitored by the surgeon Niek van Dijk and the Portugal team doctor Henrique Jones.

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 and with Henrique Jones.

"Any other information or the medical aspect about his injury are only and exclusively the concerns of Manchester United."

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