SAO PAULO (Brazil) - RONALDO will not rush his debut with Brazil's Corinthians and will postpone his return to action until he is 100 per cent fit again.

'I want to play as soon as possible,' Ronaldo said Monday in a news conference. 'But everything needs to be done correctly. I will wait as long as it's necessary, I'm not in a hurry, the club is not in a hurry and the coach is not in a hurry.'

The 32-year-old striker underwent surgery in February after rupturing a left-knee tendon while playing for AC Milan in Italy, the third major knee injury of his career. He is now in the final stages of his recovery and has started training again, but doctors say there is no timetable for his return.

'I don't know when it's going to happen, I don't have an expected date to debut,' Ronaldo said. 'We need patience. I'm trying to recover from a very serious injury.'

Ronaldo admitted last week that he needs to lose 'five or six' kilogrammes before being able to play again. His training has been focused on physical conditioning, but Ronaldo practiced with a ball for the first time on Sunday at the club's gym.

Ronaldo also denied suggestions that his personal life could affect his recovery process. Ronaldo's second child was born last week, and he was seen at Madonna's concert in Rio de Janeiro earlier this month.

'Nobody has anything to do with my personal life,' Ronaldo said. 'That was before I began to practice. I'm practicing now.'

Ronaldo signed with Corinthians earlier this month, ending speculation about a possible move to a team in Europe. Reports suggested that England's Manchester City and France's Paris Saint-Germain were both possible destinations.

Corinthians is trying to set up a friendly match against Argentina's Boca Juniors in January for Ronaldo's first match, if he is fit enough to play.

A four-time national champion, Corinthians is returning to the Brazilian league's top flight in 2009 after spending a year in the second division. -- AP