The 31-year-old ruptured tendons in his left knee against Livorno earlier this month and, after undergoing surgery in Paris last week, admitted he was prepared for the possibility that the injury may force him to prematurely retire.

Flamengo president Marcio Braga is seemingly undeterred by the Brazil international's caution as he seeks to prise the player away from Milan, where his current contract is set to expire in June.

He said: "We would welcome him with open arms. He knows that. We have already offered that to him.

"It would be wonderful if we could count on him here, among us. That said, Ronaldo is currently negotiating a one-year extension of his contract with Milan, so he will have to choose."

One advantage of a return to his homeland would be the opportunity to receive ongoing treatment from Jose Luiz Runco, who is the doctor of both Flamengo and the Brazil national team.

And Braga added: "He knows that if he wants to come to Flamengo to get over the injury, he can."