Pele briefly back in ICU but ‘stable’

Sao Paulo, Brazil: Brazilian football legend Pele, 80, was briefly transferred back to an intensive

care unit Friday after suffering breathing difficulties but is now stable, said the Albert Einstein

Hospital in Sao Paulo. The transfer was a temporary “preventative measure,” the hospital said in a statement, adding

that the sporting great was later transferred to “semi-intensive care” as he continues to recover from surgery for a suspected colon tumor. “He is currently stable from a cardiovascular and respiratory

point of view,” it added. Shortly afterwards, the ex-footballer posted a message on social media stating: “Friends, I am still recovering very well. Today I received visits from

family and I am still smiling every day.” Pele’s daughter Kely

Nascimento also posted a photo of herself next to her father in the hospital, seeking

to cheer up his fans.