MILAN, Italy (AP) - Ronaldinho transferred to AC Milan late Tuesday, leaving FC Barcelona after the club's new coach declared the team would plan for next season without the Brazilian playmaker.
The Italian club said late Tuesday Ronaldinho would arrive in Milan on Wednesday to get a medical exam and sign a contract through June 30, 2011.
Barcelona said that AC Milan will pay $33.4 million for Ronaldinho and another $6.3 million if it clinches a place in next season's Champions League.
A two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Ronaldinho has been seeking to leave Barcelona since new coach Pep Guardiola said that the star was not needed.
"(If) he can get back to being the player he was, perhaps we could have a rethink," Guardiola said last month. "But circumstances are not what they are. I want a strong dressing room in which everyone feels important. That's vital. If we don't look after these aspects, we'll be less strong. And if Ronnie felt this, he would be with us."
Ronaldinho scored 91 goals in 200 appearances in his five seasons at the Camp Nou, and helped lead Barcelona to consecutive Spanish league titles in 2005 and 2006, and the Champions League trophy in 2006.
At Milan, he will join fellow Brazilians Kaka and Alexandre Pato.
The 28-year-old, who was under contract at the Camp Nou through 2010, was coming off one of his poorest seasons with nine goals in 26 appearances. Assorted injuries ranging from a foot problem to thigh injury to knee tendinitis accompanied by concerns over his social habits meant Ronaldinho played the fewest games since first moving to Europe to play for French side Paris St-Germain in 2001.
Ronaldinho turned down Manchester United to sign with Barcelona in July 2003, shortly after David Beckham rejected Barcelona and signed with Real Madrid. Barcelona bought 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldinho for $34 million and brought winning football back to Barcelona, with his dazzling dribbles and no-look assists leading Barcelona to consecutive league titles in 2005-06 and its second European Cup in 2006.
Ronaldinho even managed to earn a standing ovation from Madrid fans after scoring for the second time in a 3-0 victory at Barca's bitter rival during the team's second title run.
But since that 2-1 Champions League victory over Arsenal at Paris, Barcelona's dip in form has mirrored that of its biggest star.
***DK*** said
22:26 07/15 2008
damn.....him an kaka spose to mad no bludfiah
SLICE BREAD said
23:26 07/15 2008
jah kno star mi a bawl wen mi read this
xxXMightyXxx said
09:08 07/16 2008
me nuh tootoo impressed with diss him and kaka yeah mhadd but who else dem have mayb dem ger adebayor r drogba who else onli tiing dem a win a campioons league ntn nuh rong with dhat still
wikaman said
09:52 07/16 2008
jah kno me wha se di man an kaka
Ricky said
10:28 07/18 2008
a mad ting next season
Chabee said
10:44 07/18 2008
a ediot thing that cause all d Arsenal yute worth more than d man star a joke him a foul still cheap bid that
oneorderja said
10:56 07/18 2008
so it go Chabee but we a go see who perform better this season cant stop the brazilian yute dem kaka and dinho ago maddd
Ronaldinho transfers to AC Milan
Updated: July 15, 2008, 6:47 PM EST 52 comments
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The Italian club said late Tuesday Ronaldinho would arrive in Milan on Wednesday to get a medical exam and sign a contract through June 30, 2011.
Barcelona said that AC Milan will pay $33.4 million for Ronaldinho and another $6.3 million if it clinches a place in next season's Champions League.
A two-time FIFA World Player of the Year, Ronaldinho has been seeking to leave Barcelona since new coach Pep Guardiola said that the star was not needed.
"(If) he can get back to being the player he was, perhaps we could have a rethink," Guardiola said last month. "But circumstances are not what they are. I want a strong dressing room in which everyone feels important. That's vital. If we don't look after these aspects, we'll be less strong. And if Ronnie felt this, he would be with us."
Ronaldinho scored 91 goals in 200 appearances in his five seasons at the Camp Nou, and helped lead Barcelona to consecutive Spanish league titles in 2005 and 2006, and the Champions League trophy in 2006.
At Milan, he will join fellow Brazilians Kaka and Alexandre Pato.
The 28-year-old, who was under contract at the Camp Nou through 2010, was coming off one of his poorest seasons with nine goals in 26 appearances. Assorted injuries ranging from a foot problem to thigh injury to knee tendinitis accompanied by concerns over his social habits meant Ronaldinho played the fewest games since first moving to Europe to play for French side Paris St-Germain in 2001.
Ronaldinho turned down Manchester United to sign with Barcelona in July 2003, shortly after David Beckham rejected Barcelona and signed with Real Madrid. Barcelona bought 2002 World Cup winner Ronaldinho for $34 million and brought winning football back to Barcelona, with his dazzling dribbles and no-look assists leading Barcelona to consecutive league titles in 2005-06 and its second European Cup in 2006.
Ronaldinho even managed to earn a standing ovation from Madrid fans after scoring for the second time in a 3-0 victory at Barca's bitter rival during the team's second title run.
But since that 2-1 Champions League victory over Arsenal at Paris, Barcelona's dip in form has mirrored that of its biggest star.