- Title: VARIOUS: Brazil striker Ronaldo joins AC Milan.
- Date: 31st January 2007
- Summary: (FILE - OZOIR-LA-FERRIERE, NEAR PARIS (JUNE 1998)) (REUTERS) RONALDO AT BRAZIL TRAINING SESSSION BEFORE THE 3-0 DEFEAT IN WORLD CUP FINAL AGAINST FRANCE
- Embargoed: 15th February 2007 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Sports
- Reuters ID: LVAAGUN5935MASB9RDPLMLOI1LUR
- Story Text: Ronaldo has arrived in Milan after completing his transfer from Real Madrid. The 30 year-old Brazilian, who is the World Cup all-time top scorer with 15 goals, is expected to start training with his new team mates at AC Milan on Wednesday (January 31).
Ronaldo arrived late at night on Tuesday (January 30) in Milan after his 7.5 million euros ($9.7 million) transfer from Real Madrid was completed earlier in the day in the Spanish capital.
The 30-year-old striker, three-times FIFA World Player of the Year, signed an 18-month contract until June 30, 2008, the Serie A club announced.
Back on Italian soil after four and a half years in Spain, Ronaldo will get a different welcome from the hero's reception that greeted him when he first arrived to sign for AC Milan's arch-rivals Inter Milan in 1997.
He becomes the 10th foreign player to play for both Inter and Milan, joining a select group that includes Clarence Seedorf, Hernan Crespo, Edgar Davids and Patrick Vieira.
Real coach Fabio Capello, talking to Italian regional TV station Tele Lombardia in Madrid, said: "I wish him the best of luck in doing what he used to do which is being a great player."
Ronaldo had been angling for a move ever since Capello, who arrived from Juventus at the start of the season, criticised him as being overweight and said he was no longer in his plans.
He seemed to make reference to the deterioration of his relationship with the Italian coach as he left the Bernabeu on his way to the airport.
"I would like to thank the fans who've supported me all the time and thank all the team mates that I've had here and all the coaches I've had - except one," he said.
"It's sad because I've been here four-and-a-half years, but now I've got another important challenge in my life. It breaks your heart, but that's life. It is a shame."
"I never had any problems with the coach, but he didn't want me and as I'm a professional I wanted to carry on playing and so we looked for another solution."
Milan are paying 7.5 million euros for the Brazilian up front and an extra 0.5 million if they qualify for the Champions League this season or next, the Italian club's vice-president Adriano Galliani said.
"We have just signed, Ronaldo is heading to Italy and should be there by eight, nine o'clock (at night) and tomorrow morning he will training with the squad as a player bought with a contract lasting until July 2008. He signed a contract and we got a great player (for) 7,5 million euros," Galliani told reporters at the Bernabeu.
Real confirmed the deal in a statement on their Web site (www.realmadrid.com) which said: "Real Madrid would like to recognise everything that this special player has given the club during his time here. Madrid fans will never forget the moments of great football that he has provided."
The move ends more than two weeks of negotiations between the clubs for the Brazilian, whose contract with Real was due to expire at the end of next season.
Ronaldo scored 104 goals for Real since joining them in August 2002.
He was the club's leading scorer in each of his four previous seasons in Spain but had limited opportunities to shine following knee surgery after the World Cup last year with coach Fabio Capello preferring Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy up front.
His departure from Inter, in Aug. 2002, left a stain on his reputation in Italy. He sneaked out of the back door weeks after covering himself in glory by leading Brazil to victory over Germany in the World Cup final.
His refusal to continue playing for the club, and particularly for its then coach Hector Cuper, ended in a hastily arranged transfer to Madrid.
They accused him of ingratitude and of betraying their club, of taking a salary for more than two years while he underwent surgery and therapy on a series of knee injuries then jumping ship as soon as he was fit.
Ronaldo inspired Brazil to World Cup victory in 2002 and holds the record for goals scored in World Cup tournaments with 15.
In a separate but related deal, Real Madrid were reported to be close to agreeing to sign Milan's Brazilian striker Ricardo Oliveira on loan until the end of the season.
The 26-year-old, who has scored just two league goals since joining Milan from Real Betis for a reported fee of 17.5 million euros on the final day of the close season, was left out of the Milan squad for Wednesday's Italian Cup match against AS Roma. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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