Pele’s family have denied reports that the Brazilian icon will receive end-of-life care.
Flavia and Kely Nascimento, his daughters, said he had been sent to hospital for treatment of respiratory illness aggravated by Covid.
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Pele’s health was of concern after reports about his health emerged this week
They insisted the 82-year-old was ‘not at risk’ after reports claimed he had been transferred to end-of-life care at Albert Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo.
This led to messages of support from the global football community from Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Vinicius Jr.
The girls thanked people for their concern and support, but said he was ‘not ready to say goodbye’ and insisted he would ‘come home’ as he was recovering from his respiratory infection.
They dismissed reports suggesting he was in intensive care and said Pele followed Brazil during the World Cup in Qatar, often even having conversations with his grandson.
Kely told Fantastico: “About three weeks ago he caught Covid. He is vaccinated, with all the vaccines, but because of the cancer drug, chemotherapy, which is fragile, he caught a lung infection.
“That’s why he went to the hospital, because of a lung infection. Is he serious? It’s serious, because he is of a certain age, he is treating cancer.
AFP
Pelé has been hospitalized, but his family insists he is not receiving end-of-life care
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Fans held vigils outside Albert Einstein Hospital
Pele’s condition has raised concerns after Folha in Brazil reported the former soccer star was unresponsive to chemotherapy treatment he had been undergoing since last September while treating his bowel cancer .
Flavia Nascimento added: “It is very unfair that people say he is at the end of his life, in palliative care. Guys, that’s not true. Believe us.
“He’s not in intensive care, he’s in a regular room. He is not at risk, he is in treatment.
