AC MILAN BLOG |
|
Read our AC Milan blog for the best AC Milan related commentary, rants, articles and more.
|
|
AC MILAN FORUM |
|
Join our growing AC Milan supporters community
over at the Red & Black Forums
and entertain yourself by discussing AC Milan related topics.
|
|
| | Ronaldinho, Ronnie |  |
The Brazilian international Ronaldinho joined the Rossoneri in 2008 in a 21 million euro move from Spanish football giants Barcelona. In all fairness he perhaps hasn't hit the heights that were expected of him just yet but he could still be well on course to become a Milan legend. Last year former AC Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti was criticised for the way he played Ronaldinho and he also had compatriot Kaka to compete with in terms of being the team's main creative outlet. The depature of Kaka could allow Ronaldinho his moment to shine and he may just take it.
Ronaldinho started his club career with Germio in his homeland where he quickly established a reputation as one of Brazil's rising young stars. Incidentally, he is also one of the few players to have represented Brazil at every international level - he was part of the winning Brazilian side at the 1997 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Egypt. His talents did not go unnoticed and in 2001 he signed a five-year deal with French side Paris Saint Germaine, having been linked to Premier League side Arsenal earlier in his career. However, despite some impressive performances for PSG and rave reviews for his trickery and obvious abilities he left Paris after less than two years with the club, with then PSG boss Luis Fernández claiming the talented playmaker was more focused on the vibrant Parisian nightlife than his football commitments.
Premier League giants Manchester United entered the race for his signature but Ronaldinho instead opted for a move to La Liga side Barcelona in 2003. It was at Barca where Ronaldinho really established himself as one of the world's top talents. Barca won La Liga twice during Ronaldinho's Nou Camp stay as well as the Champions League in 2006 - he was also named Champions League player of the year that season. As well as many titles, Ronaldinho won numerous individual plaudits during his time in Spain. The Ballon d'Or in 2005 was arguably the highlight but he was also named World Player of the Year twice and earned a place in the UEFA Team of the Year in 2004, 05 and 06. In 2005 Ronaldinho found the net twice as Barca recorded a 3-0 victory over fierce rivals Real Madrid in El Classico at the Bernabeu - after the match he received a standing ovation from the Madrid crowd, a very rare feat indeed for a Barca hero.
However, by the 2007/08 season Ronaldinho had begun to suffer serious injury problems and his entire campaign was disrupted by fitness and injury problems. Rumours began to circulate that he was perhaps enjoying the Barcelona lifestyle a bit too much and had neglected his football. The player distanced himself from such speculation but, perhaps because of his previous reputation at PSG, he was deemed surplus to Barca's requirements and president Joan Laporta said the Brazilian needed a 'new challenge'.It has been widely reported that Ronaldinho turned down a massive offer from Premier League side Manchester City (before the Arab billionaires bought the club) in order to move to the San Siro. His career in Milan couldn't have got off to a better start in all honesty as his first goal proved to be the winner in the first Milan derby on September 28 2008. He managed a fairly decent return of 8 goals in 29 games for the Rossoneri last season and while this is perhaps not quite what the Milan faithful were expecting/hoping for it isn't a bad return for someone whose career was considered to be on a down-turn.
Having watched Ronaldinho over the years, as I'm sure most serious football fans have, I feel he will up his game next season and be a greater threat. In December Kaka admitted that Ronaldinho's arrival at the San Siro had not helped the team's tactics and later in the season rumours emerged of a rift with Ancelotti. Now Ancelotti has moved on to Chelsea it looks increasingly likely Ronaldinho will indeed stay at the San Siro and Milan may have a ready-made replacement for Kaka already within their ranks. Until the new season begins there will of course be question marks as to whether he can up his game, but at 29-years-old the World Cup in 2010 may be his last chance to play in the competition and he will be eager to upset the football odds and prove his worth and force his way back into the Brazilian national side - which can only be a good thing for the fans at the san Siro.
Profile written by Gareth Freeman on July 6th 2009. Some of the content might be outdated and it might lack events that followed the date it was written on. Contact us if you'd like to update this profile. | |
