Pele moved to 'special care' unit; agent says legend is fine

Brazilian football legend Pele is in a good condition and is expected to leave hospital in the next few days, his spokesman said.

The hospital earlier released a statement saying the 74-year-old, who is being treated for a urinary infection, was transferred to a “special care” unit after his condition became unstable, but his spokesman and personal aide denied his condition had deteriorated.

“He is fine,” Jose Fornos Rodrigues, known as Pepito, said. “The problem was that he was receiving too many visitors and that wasn’t helping, so they transferred him to a calmer area to continue receiving the proper treatment. He should be out of the hospital in a few days.”

The statement from the Albert Einstein hospital in Sao Paulo sparked concern in Brazil, with local media widely reporting that Pele’s condition had worsened.

The hospital’s press office had stressed Pele was not in intensive care and was just being monitored.

Pele was admitted to the hospital on Monday for a medical evaluation and was diagnosed with the urinary infection. He was being treated with antibiotics.

Pele was in the same hospital less than 15 days ago to undergo surgery to remove kidney stones.