Pele 'remains in intensive care' says hospital

Pele 'remains in intensive care' says hospital

Brazilian legend Pelé's health continues to improve, although he remains in an intensive care unit to allow doctors to monitor a urinary tract infection, according to his hospital.

The three-times World Cup champion is receiving renal support treatment, which helps kidneys to filter waste products from the blood. He underwent surgery to remove kidney stones earlier this month.

According to a statement released by São Paulo-based Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, Pelé - often called the greatest football player in history - is "lucid, talking and his respiratory and blood readings are stable." A treatment with antibiotics remained unaltered, the statement said.

The hospital's statement appears to contradict statements made by Pele via Twitter and Facebook, in which he said he was fine, that the ailment was not serious, and that he was only moved in order to enjoy the privacy of a single room. 

Pelé, whose real name is Edson Arantes do Nascimento, has struggled with a long list of health problems over the past decade. He has had emergency eye surgery for a detached retina and a hip replacement.

Known as the "King of football" in Brazil, he played in four World Cups and scored over 1,000 goals during his career.

Source :Eurosport