FRANCE 98 – General Media News Template

Italy striker Fabrizio Ravanelli was breathing a sigh of relief on Saturday, after learning that his ailing three-year-old son should soon be leaving hospital. Luca was rushed to hospital, suffering from diarrohea, vomiting and a high fever, after being hit by a mystery virus while the Olympique Marseille ace was in Sweden for last week’s friendly.

Ravanelli had been wracked with anguish as he arrived for the World Cup finals, but on Saturday night he said: “He’s much better now. The doctors have found out what’s wrong and are treating it with antibiotics. Hopefully, in two days’ time-or three at the most-he will be going home. He first went down with it about 20 days ago and it was treated at home. But a couple of days ago, it flared up again. But I spoke to the hospital today and they said the situation was much better.” 

Ravanelli’s performance against the Swedes came in for some criticism, but the former Middlesbrough favourite said: “Finding out that your son is ill gives you back your sense of perspective on things.”