PELÉ ‘IN BETTER CONDITION’ BUT BRAZIL LEGEND REMAINS IN HOSPITAL

Pelé “is in better condition” though he remains in a special care unit being treated for a urinary tract infection.

The 74-year-old is in hospital in São Paulo receiving renal support treatment, which helps kidneys to filter waste products from the blood, after surgery to remove kidney stones earlier this month. He is not on vasoactive drugs or other supportive therapies, the hospital said.

Pelé, often called the greatest player in history, has suffered a long list of health problems in the past decade, including emergency eye surgery for a detached retina and a hip replacement.

His manager, Paul Kemsley, said he was expected to make a full recovery and reports of his condition are being “greatly exaggerated”.

Pelé released a statement on Twitter to assure his followers he was on the mend on Thursday evening. He wrote: “Hello everyone, I want to take this opportunity to let you know that I am doing fine.

“I was not put into intensive care today, I was simply relocated to a special room within the hospital for privacy purposes only. While I appreciate all the visitors that came to see me, I really need to continue my treatment and recovery in peace. I am blessed to receive your love and support, and thank God this is nothing serious.

“I am looking forward to spending the upcoming holidays with my family, and will start the new year with renewed health, with many international trips already planned! Thank you!”

A statement from the hospital earlier read: “The Albert Einstein reports the patient Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Pelé) has been admitted with clinical instability. To receive the best care, he has been transferred to be monitored in a special care unit. The hospital will update when there is new information.”

Pelé’s adviser, Jose Fornos Rodrigues, said the star simply wanted more privacy. “It will take between eight and 10 days before he can leave the hospital,” he told Globoesporte.com.

Known as “the King of football” in Brazil, Pelé played in four World Cups and helped Brazil win the global tournament three times – 1958, 1962 and 1970.