At around midday last Friday, the arrivals hall in Milan's international airport of Malpensa was abuzz with activity. Cameras whirred, lights flashed and microphones were thrust forward as Brazilian ace Ronaldo touched down on Italian soil to officially resume his football career.

Reporters wanted to know about Ronaldo's overall physical condition, about his immediate training programme, about his availability (or not) for Brazil's mid-summer Coppa America campaign.

For all that they were not short of curiosity, however, the reporters refrained from asking the one question that really matters. There was no need. That question hangs unspoken in the air, ready to cast a cloud over the hearts and minds not only of Ronaldo but also of his family, his agents, Inter Milan football club, the Brazilian Federation and thousands of fans worldwide.

Namely, will Ronaldo ever come even remotely close to recovering his best form? For the last year, he has carefully nursed his war wounds in his native Rio, building himself up slowly in the reassuring presence of his family.

From now on, however, the pressure is on. For example, Ronaldo conceded last week that he has not even dared attempt his delicious trademark "shimmy" or body swerve.

That was the movement he used on April 12th last year, just six minutes after coming on as a substitute during Inter's Cup tie away to Lazio. On that occasion, however, Ronaldo wreaked devastation on himself, completely rupturing the rotular tendon in his right knee.

Brazil's manager, Emerson Leao, goalkeeper in the 1970 World Cup winning side, said recently that he would be happy if Ronaldo got back to even 70 per cent of his previous best.

Early last month, however, Ronaldo did hear one expert opinion that must have encouraged him. That came from Paris-based surgeon, Professor Gerard Saillant, the man who operated on him in November 1999 and last April. The Professor gave the green light to resume training.

"I'll take things day by day, week by week. We'll be watching everything very closely . . . I'm just thinking about working and training hard, concentrating on myself. Nothing is fixed, we'll just see how it goes . . . One thing for sure is that it needs more than a charity match with Schumacher for me to decide that I am fully recovered," said Ronaldo.

As he sets out on another phase of the long road back to competitive action, here's wishing Ronaldo Good Luck. In the week of the Ellis Park trajedy in South Africa, international football could do with some good news such as the return of a fully fit Ronaldo.

Paddy Agnew can be contacted at pagnew@aconet.it