OFFICIAL: MILAN GET RONALDINHO
Tuesday 15 July, 2008
Milan have officially announced they have agreed a deal to sign Ronaldinho from Barcelona.

“AC Milan and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Ronaldinho to the Rossoneri,” read the statement.

“The player will be in Milan tomorrow to undergo a medical and sign the contract that will tie him to the club until June 30, 2011.”

It was confirmed the Brazilian will leave Barcelona at 11.00 local time on Wednesday morning on the same flight as general manager Adriano Galliani.

The financial details have not yet been revealed, but it is expected to have been sealed in the region of £15m.

The offer was substantially lower than Manchester City’s £25.5m bid, but Ronaldinho’s desire to join Milan has been evident for many months.

He now goes to bolster an already strong Brazilian contingent at San Siro alongside Kaka and Alexandre Pato for an all-Selecao front three.

“Tomorrow Ronaldinho will undergo a medical and, if he passes, he will become a Milan player,” grinned Galliani on Sky Italia.

The official was on his way to a restaurant in Barcelona with President Joan Laporta, agent Roberto De Assis, FIFA go-between Ernesto Bronzetti and of course Ronaldinho himself to celebrate the deal.

It was reported one of the main sticking points over the last few hours was the fee that needed to go to his former club, Paris Saint-Germain, but Milan and Barca managed to iron out the remaining details.

Hopefully we see more Ronaldinho '05/'06, and less Ronaldinho '06/'07!

Edit: Hopefully we see more Kaka '06/'07, and less Ronaldinho!

Edit: Hopefully we see more Kaka '06/'07, and less Ronaldinho!

Edit: FIX: Hopefully we see more Kaka '06/'07, and Ronaldinho '05/06'!

I've never been a major fan even when he was at his peak.

I fail to see how people love this guy and call Ronaldo a one-trick pony that never shows up in big games. I mean Ronaldinho was sensational in the CL final against Arsenal wasn't he and in the World cup, well...

There have been 2 occasions I can recall him turning it on and proving he's World Class against proper opposition against Madrid and against Milan mainly because of 'that' goal.

I hope I'm wrong and in a few months I'm eating my words but I do fail to see how he's going to change Milan's fortunes when we have the better Brazilian in our team already.

This could be as big as Gre-No-Li or the three dutch musketeers.

Hey!

A lot of Manchester City fans are 'relieved' he hasn't joined them so I've been hearing.

Now I thought this was jealousy but these comments were from a few days ago, maybe I'm not the only one having a few doubts.

I love your avatar by the way!

I've never been a major fan even when he was at his peak.

I fail to see how people love this guy and call Ronaldo a one-trick pony that never shows up in big games. I mean Ronaldinho was sensational in the CL final against Arsenal wasn't he and in the World cup, well...

There have been 2 occasions I can recall him turning it on and proving he's World Class against proper opposition against Madrid and against Milan mainly because of 'that' goal.

I hope I'm wrong and in a few months I'm eating my words but I do fail to see how he's going to change Milan's fortunes when we have the better Brazilian in our team already.

In a way they're right. But to say the wouldn't have welcomed him, is like us, now saying, thank God we didn't get Eto'o. He's an idiot and too expensive. The fact is Man City couldn't offer him anything. He would be surrounded in a pool of average to just above par players. He would automatically be the target for all opposition players, and Man City are probably not challenging for any trophy this season other than the FA Cup. He'd always be branded as the player who chose to become the big fish in a small pond for the added bucks!

R10 did what was right by him, and it's worked out in our favour. But thank god, he didn't go with Chelsea, now that was something I was worried about!

I don't get what you mean in the last paragraph... you mean that because Kaka is the best in the world (or one of the best if you like) whoever is less good than him is not needed?!?

Dinho: Milan at last
Wednesday 16 July, 2008
Ronaldinho has expressed his joy at leaving Barcelona for Milan and can’t wait to make a fresh start in Serie A.

The Selecao star was frozen out at the Nou Camp after a troubled campaign and made it clear that he didn’t want to stay on for next season.

After a series of financial compromises, Dinho was allowed to join Milan rather than Manchester City and the joy was evident.

“Finally I am a Milan player,” he crowed. “I’m sorry if I kept you waiting but the facts show that I always wanted the Rossoneri.

“It’s not the right time to talk about Barcelona because I just want to enjoy this new chapter in my life.

“I will only say that I promise to work so hard at Milan and not just on a technical level.”

Milan’s new ace will fly to Italy’s fashion capital at 10am this morning and is due to be presented to the Press at Milanello this evening.

Not what I meant. I mean if you're going to spend fairly big money it should improve the team in my eyes it doesn't it just gives us a lesser duplicate of someone we already have that's what I intended it to mean.

@ dst

It's unfair to say Ronaldinho is all about tricks and flicks. his playmaking abilities, his through passes, his free kicks, his ability of scoring weird goals from unusual positions, his inability of missing point blank chances!, etc. what about these? in fact Ronaldinho has somethings extra compared to many and those are his tricks and flicks!

Many people used to say he's a money whore. he proved them wrong... now it's time to prove those who say he is finished wrong.

@han2503: In a way they're right. But to say the wouldn't have welcomed him, is like us, now saying, thank God we didn't get Eto'o. He's an idiot and too expensive. The fact is Man City couldn't offer him anything. He would be surrounded in a pool of average to just above par players. He would automatically be the target for all opposition players, and Man City are probably not challenging for any trophy this season other than the FA Cup. He'd always be branded as the player who chose to become the big fish in a small pond for the added bucks!

R10 did what was right by him, and it's worked out in our favour. But thank god, he didn't go with Chelsea, now that was something I was worried about!

Not what I meant. I mean if you're going to spend fairly big money it should improve the team in my eyes it doesn't it just gives us a lesser duplicate of someone we already have that's what I intended it to mean.

That's not what I said. Ronaldinho is a great player. Kaka is too. But the former comes with lots of golden ribbons...

Many people used to say he's a money whore. he proved them wrong... now it's time to prove those who say he is finished wrong.

11 seems to be cursed... 20 or 28 would look fine...

Who had the 11 before Gila?

MILANELLO - Right now at the Rossoneri's sports centre of Milanello, there are about 4,000 Rossoneri fans present awaiting the arrival of Ronaldinho, singing songs and supporting the squad.


FORZA MILANNNNNNNN!!!!

^^ i wouldnt know mate... i would check now, if they did they should be showing coverage

Is that De Assis beside Leonardo?

Nice Pics. God im excited for the Kaka' R10 combo.. that will open up so much space for both of them. Now defenders cant just ride Kaka's *** all game cuz then r10 will have to much space, or vis versa.

Blog: Wrong-aldinho

Milanisti may be hailing the arrival of Ronaldinho today, but Antonio Labbate thinks the Brazilian isn’t needed at San Siro

So Milan have finally got their man. Pending the outcome of a medical later today, which will be passed unless he breaks the scales, Ronaldinho will complete his move to the Rossoneri for around £16m. Yet it doesn’t make sense, it just doesn’t make sense.

How many times have we heard Vice-President Adriano Galliani plead poverty this summer after being scared off by the valuation of some of Europe’s top stars? So it is somewhat amusing that the same individual would fly off to Spain and spend the money he has on a player that the Italian giants seemingly have no need for.

The Brazilian represents the icing on the cake to Milan’s transfer campaign, but the problem is that the cake is crumbling. What real wisdom is there in adding Ronaldinho to a squad which already consists of Kaka, Alexandre Pato and Clarence Seedorf? Especially when the side is crying out for reinforcements elsewhere. Who’s putting together the outfit’s transfer strategy? Alessio Secco?

Even if we forget the club’s need for a new No 1 – Silvio Berlusconi has never spent big on a goalkeeper – it’s quite clear that the club should have invested in a fresh central defender and, especially, a centre-forward. Instead, boss Carlo Ancelotti will now have to design a side which is overflowing with attacking midfielders and second strikers, but no target man who can head a ball.

The reality is that Milan perhaps needed Ronaldinho two years ago when they first made their interest clear, not now. He could admittedly turn out to be the signing of the century if he can return to the player we all loved to watch in 2006, but back then he was a certainty and today he is a gamble. A massive one at that.

That’s why this move stinks of a Berlusconi PR exercise. He’s primarily bought Ronaldinho for himself and for the fans, not for the Coach. After all, it is no coincidence that the deal with Barca was completed less than 24 hours before Milan meet up for pre-season training. Expect Berlusconi to fly into Milanello later today to take the plaudits for a transfer which the club insist is a coup, but one which in the long run may turn out to be a costly error.

C4