THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILAN, Italy — AC Milan midfielder Gennaro Gattuso says he is willing to play for free once he comes back from a serious eye problem.
Gattuso has not played since colliding with teammate Alessandro Nesta in the Serie A opener on Sept. 9. He has been diagnosed with myasthenia — an autoimmune neuromuscular disease.
The 34-year-old Gattuso’s contract expires at the end of the season but he says "I’m ready to play for free even. I’ve told (vice-president) Adriano Galliani that it’s not a matter of money. I want to return to doing what I love."
Gattuso has been at Milan since 1999 and has won everything in a glittering career, including the 2006 World Cup with Italy.
He says "I live for football … at the age of 34, I have never thought about stopping."