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Ronaldinho to Milan
Words :: Soccer360 Magazine
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 $32m.
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.
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Feedback :: Ronaldinho to Milan
Your Say
He's still world class, but an attacker would have been good!
Mikkel
I admit, Milan did need a centre-forward but the signing of Ronaldinho is a superb
one. Ancelotti will just have to adapt the team to play more
like Roma do. They play neat football without the need of
a dedicated striker. Maybe it’ll all work out fine in the
end. Dinho wants to show that he is still a great player
and he can do it. If he starts playing the way he did two
or three years ago then I think we’ll see another Scudetto
for Milan!
Farhad,
Luton, UK
It's clear once again that Ancelotti is being ignored by Berlusconi and Galliani
who buy names to appease themselves and the fans. It is perhaps
Ancelotti's lack of resistance to them that has ensured his
safety despite horrific failure in the last two seasons.
Flamini
was a good signing, however, he too was unessential – though
not to the same degree as Ronaldinho. I cannot figure a formation
where Milan can play their best players. One thing is for
sure though, Ronaldinho will provide some much needed cash
in return, simply from his presence. Milan fans will rush
out to buy Ronaldinho shirts to hide the pile of other big
name failures Milan has taken on in recent years – notably
the fat Ronaldo, Gilardino and Vieri.
One
major issue with Ronaldinho's signing – and subsequent cashing
in on – may be the issue of his squad number. Would anyone
want to take a guess at his number with 9 & 10 taken? Gilardino's abandoned 11 shirt is likely, but it will make a mockery
of Nike's R10 campaign in a similar way that Ronaldo's transfer
to Real would see C7 come up against Raul for that number.
It may sound stupid but this will be of major annoyance to
Nike and they will pass that headache on to Milan who will
have to try and suit all parties.
K Gilmour,
Glasgow
This article is just written by someone who doesn't know much about soccer or
Milan. Who has seen Milan play last season has recognized
that there are no chances created if Kaka or Seedorf are
not at their best. Ronaldinho is what Milan needed most.
When there are no chances upfront they don't need a striker
who is able to head the ball in. Milan haven’t had a header
since Bierhoff.
With
Ronaldinho, Milan have a player who fits perfectly with Pato
and Kaka and who is able to decide a game on his own. Who
would be so stupid and choose a goalkeeper instead of Dinho
at the age of 28? This is complete nonsense. Milan will probably
have the best offence in Europe now.
Dominik
Ruter
As
if Milan didn't already have enough ageing, fading stars!
Bring back Shevchenko and you'll have a full house! Perhaps
they're trying to emulate Southampton from the early 80s!
Richard
Pardey
Who would be so stupid and choose a goalkeeper instead of Dinho at the age of
28? Sebastien Frey would be of more use to this Milan than
Dinho.
Craig
‘stupid’
Jones
If
Amantino Mancini is worth £10m, then a former World
and European
Footballer of the Year is a bargain at £16m. Despite
an injury hit
season, Ronaldinho still scored goals for Barcelona.
He is of similar age to Mancini but comes with more
goals,
international recognition and a career filled with personal,
club and
international honours.
Yes
he is a gamble, but the same applied to every player
that
a club signs. Look at Sheva. He went for double what
Ronaldinho has,
and he has turned out to be the biggest and most expensive
flop in Premier League history. If Milan didn't take
gambles
on so called washed out and so called overrated players
like
Seedorf, Pirlo, Cafu, Inzaghi and many more, then
they wouldn't
have had the seven or so fruitful years.
He
has come to an organisation that expects hard work in
a family
environment. Ronaldinho has already showed dedication
to his sport by
taking a pay cut, and I have no doubt we will see
his hunger come the first day of the season. There are
no guarantees in football, but no one can say they wouldn't
be happy with Ronaldinho joining their beloved team.
Who
do you support Labbate? Maybe sour grapes?
Rosario
How
good is Ronaldinho? The fact that only Milan and Manchester
City seriously wanted him speaks volumes. And everyone
should
ask why Barcelona didn’t want him anymore. City had
a lucky
escape!
Dario,
Manchester
The
best signing of the season so far. I think only Ronaldo
or Messi,
or my super hero Kaka, are better than Dinho at the
moment.
But who knows what will happen next season when he wins
the Scudetto, Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup...
Abdulahi