- Title: ITALY: SOCCER - Ronaldo holds his first A.C. Milan news conference
- Date: 3rd February 2007
- Summary: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 2, 2007) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF RONALDO ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE VARIOUS OF RONALDO HOLDING AC MILAN SHIRT POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS NEXT (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RONALDO SAYING: "I expect the respect of the people who have been with me and that now obviously will no longer be on my side (Inter Milan fans). Respect, I believe, is the most important thing. My story with Inter Milan is a very beautiful one, but one that ended badly. Let's not forget that the team's coach basically compelled the management to sell me" JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RONALDO SAYING: "In other occasions I have refused money, choosing the sport challenge. This time as well. I had offers from Saudi Arabia, from the United States. I could also have stayed in Madrid. But the challenge to come to AC Milan and to show the whole world that my story is not over is a great motivation for me" JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) RONALDO SAYING: "We (me and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello) never had problems. This sounds like a joke, I know, but it's like this. He never had confidence in me, he never let me play. He never said why, and I never asked why. It was a short, ugly and sad story" RONALDO LEAVING WITH AC MILAN'S MANAGER ADRIANO GALLIANI
- Embargoed: 18th February 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Italy
- Country: Italy
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAE6UFZWQ1CXQH6FIO30QZNR7I7
- Story Text: Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo calls for respect from both Milan and Inter fans in his first news conference since signing for A.C. Milan.
Brazilian soccer star Ronaldo held his first news conference since signing for A.C. Milan on Friday (February 2) and called for both Milan and Inter fans to show him he respect.
Ronaldo's move to A.C. Milan has left fans of the Serie A club distinctly unimpressed with many believing his 18-month 7.5 million euro deal to return to the city has more to do with commercial reasons than his ability to score.
Inter Milan fans have also been unimpressed with his return still remembering when his August 2002 departure from the club left a stain on his reputation. He was seen by fans to sneak out of the back door in a hastily arranged transfer to Real Madrid after covering himself in glory leading Brazil to victory over Germany in the World Cup final.
"I expect the respect of the people who have been with me and that now obviously will no longer be on my side (Inter Milan fans). Respect, I believe, is the most important thing' Ronaldo said.
'My story with Inter Milan is a very beautiful one, but one that ended badly. Let's not forget that the team's coach basically compelled the management to sell me" he added.
Ronaldo disputed the comments made that his decision to return to Italy had been based on financial reasons and insisted his sporting career was not over.
'I had offers from Saudi Arabia, from the United States. I could also have stayed in Madrid. But the challenge to come to AC Milan and to show the whole world that my story is not over is a great motivation for me" he said.
The three times World Player of the Year also said he had not had any real problems with Real coach Fabio Capello despite his thinly veiled criticisms of his former coach in the past few days.
"We (me and Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello) never had problems' he said.
'This sounds like a joke, I know, but it's like this. He never had confidence in me, he never let me play. He never said why, and I never asked why' Ronaldo said.
'It was a short, ugly and sad story" Ronaldo said. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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