Dortmund defied by injured Amoroso
DORTMUND, Germany -- Borussia Dortmund have ordered Brazilian striker Marcio Amoroso to return to the club for a medical examination to determine whether he needs knee surgery.
The 29-year-old has been in Brazil for eight weeks since injuring his knee and says the operation, which he wants done in the U.S., is necessary. But Dortmund club president Gerd Niebaum sais the Bundesliga club needed to examine Amoroso's knee before allowing the surgery to go ahead.
"It appears the club thinks I'm just here in Brazil for fun, but this isn't fun. I have an injury that probably has to be operated on," Amoroso said in a television interview on Tuesday from Brazil.
"The team hasn't given me the green light for an operation. It hasn't helped in any way at all."
Amoroso was the Bundesliga's top scorer when Dortmund won the title in 2001, but he has often fallen out with coach Mathias Sammer since then.
Amoroso's lawyer claimed Dortmund were using the situation to pressure the Brazilian to accept a 20 percent pay cut proposed for all players following the club's surprise failure to qualify for the Champions League.
"Borussia Dortmund is placing the condition on the player Amoroso that he give up 20 percent of his income in order to be treated," said Pedro Adib.
