“So we didn’t make a mistake after all,” quipped AC Milan owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi after Ronaldinho scored twice in the 3-0 win over Sampdoria on Sunday.
The Brazilian, who went badly off the boil in his final two seasons at Barcelona, has also had an inconsistent start to his San Siro career after a 21 million euro move.
The doubters (ie. Inter Milan fans) quickly asserted that the mercurial talent had lost his magical powers for good.
On Sunday, he proved them wrong by rediscovering the most precious commodity in football — confidence.
Being left out of the Brazil squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Venezuela and Colombia did him a world of good as it allowed him to concentrate on improving his fitness in training.
In truth though it was compatriot Kaka, who did jet off with Brazil, that helped him the most against Samp.
It was 0-0 when ‘Ricky’ came on as a substitute at halftime and he quickly galvanized Milan, playing a lovely pass to Ronaldinho for his second goal.
“I must thank my team mates. They have helped a lot,” Ronaldinho said.
Now maybe humility is as precious as confidence.
PHOTO: AC Milan’s Ronaldinho celebrates after scoring against Sampdoria in their Serie A soccer match at the San Siro Oct. 19. REUTERS/Stefano Rellandini
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18 comments so far
Fitness is the key, I think. You could tell during the final couple of seasons at Barcelona that he just wasn’t at 100 percent. lf he’s working hard, not just in the gym but taking full part in training, that’s a very good sign.
- Posted by Kevin FylanRonaldinho has shown he can return to his best form.With Kaka, Pato he can do extraordinary things at AC Milan.
- Posted by Balonul DigitalThere is a minor error in this story that i didn’t like. Ronaldinho was not left out of the Brazil squad. He requested time-off from the national team so he can fit in and get some match fitness playing in Milan’s friendlies that were on at the same time and the other serie-a games.
- Posted by NormanIt still means he was ‘left out’. The Dunga quote was: “We’re going to do all we can to help him get back to being the Ronaldinho that everyone knows.”
- Posted by MarkI’m very hapy for dinho & the entire team, but i will love it if milan will go for deigo that plays for welder bremen, so as to make the midfield stronger
- Posted by John[...] to Source Share and [...]
- Posted by Ronaldinho thrives…with a little help from his friends | Soccer News InfoThe story is correct. Ronaldinho was dropped from the Brazil squad after his atrocious performance against Bolivia. It was Dunga’s decision, not his.
- Posted by Brian HomewoodThe game is certainly a lot more interesting when it’s superstars are well and contributing. Here’s to him.
- Posted by Mikehttp://startingeleven.blogspot.com/2008/ 10/starting-eleven-football-blog-roundup _20.html
Ronaldinho has proven himself a worthy transfer, I don’t think it was just Inter Milan fans who doubted Ronaldinho, as a Rossonero I doubted him too… Not because of his form but because AC Milan had let Ronaldo go only a few months before. Ronaldinho unlike Ronaldo has made a very good contribution to Milan, I would rather have let Shevchenko go to a different club because I feel he is rarely in the right place at the right time.
- Posted by RaffIn general Milan are playing a far more fluent season than last season, I think there is a slight absence of midfielders- other than that I think Milan are on a winning form!
nice player
- Posted by joseRonaldinho is king. A player is always a baller..Talent is love… love for what you have passion to do never dies.. Ronaldinho is the Pyre that sets doubts into flames… Fear is tamed..
- Posted by EscoMy wife & I, avid Barcelona supporters (living in England); were confused with the happenings at Barcelona over the last couple of years. Conflicting reports from the speculators were of no help. We still put a large amount of the blame with the then manager who should have had a firm grip of the helm.
- Posted by Garyronaldinho is almost back to his great self. ac milan will win the uefa cup without a doubt and ronaldinho could be a candidate for player of the year again. if he gets back to full fitness you better watch out in next year’s champions league that ac milan will easily qualify for. ronaldinho still the best for me
- Posted by chelsea fanRonaldinho is a class player!thats all there is to it
- Posted by dixonRonaldinho thrives…with a little help from his friends…
“So we didn’t make a mistake after all,” quipped AC Milan owner and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi after Ronaldinho scored twice in the 3-0 win over Sampdoria on Sunday.The Brazilian, who went badly off the boil in his final two seasons…
- Posted by 52.co.nzRonaldinho was the best and still is the best, just because his last two seasons werent up to the mark doesnt mean he has lost ‘the talent’. I would rather say the last two seasons at barcelona kinda messed him rather than ‘he messed up the last two seasons’…!!!
- Posted by Ronaldinho FAN !!!!Ronaoldinho All The Way !!! w0000t !
hey plx we are willing to see your great football which you had shown in barcelona i know if you try you can ! ok get on your feet and show the world that you can play your great football nom also
- Posted by ajui like pie
- Posted by shorty