Milan youngster Pato hails Ronaldinho signing.

MILAN, July 20 (Serie A) - AC Milan striker Alexandre Pato believes Ronaldinho's arrival at the San Siro will turn the Rossoneri into world beaters.

Ronaldinho finally completed his long-awaited switch to the Serie A giants on Thursday, training with the team for the first time the following day.

Milan are hoping to bounce back from last season's disappointing campaign where they finished fifth, a result that saw them miss out on a Champions League spot, and Pato feels that with Ronaldinho on board they will sweep all before them.

'We will try to win the Scudetto and now that Ronaldinho has arrived we can win everything,' Pato told Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport.

'We will fight for the UEFA Cup and for the Copa Italia, even though the league is our first priority.'

Ronaldinho's arrival has generated a wave of excitement which the Italian media are dubbing 'Dinho mania'.

Thousands of spectators gathered outside Milan's training ground in the hope of catching a glimpse of the new signing on Wednesday, while 40,000 fans turned up to the San Siro 24 hours later for his presentation ceremony.

Such fan fervour does not surprise Pato, who is used to the affection afforded to his fellow Brazilian in his home country.

'Dinho deserves this welcome because he is one of the great ones, a phenomenon,' added the 18-year-old.

'I grew up in Porto Alegre and Ronaldinho was born there, In the city all they talk about is that he is a legend.

'I dream about arriving at his level. He has brought to Milan much happiness, he plays while smiling and that is his secret.'

Thousands attend as AC Milan unveil Ronaldinho

Thousands of fans turned up late Thursday as AC Milan unveiled their Brazilian new signing, Ronaldinho - 2004 and 2005 World Player of the Year.

Ronaldinho has completed an 18.5-million-euro move from Barcelona and Milan invited fans to come along for a first glimpse.

Sky TG24 television said around 30,000 fans had turned up to see their new star enter the San Siro arena in a black and red club shirt but without a number on the back.

Earlier, Ronaldinho said: "I can confirm I desperately wanted Milan. Many things have happened, but in the end I am a Rossonero.

"I'm happy to be here and I repeat, I hope to make the Milan crowd joyful," said the world champion, who joins compatriots Kaka and teen prodigy Alexandre Pato at the San Siro.

AC Milan announces acquisition of Brazilian star Ronaldinho from FC Barcelona

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. The transfer amount was considerably less than the $50.7 million Barcelona said Manchester City had offered.

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.

Milan won't break bank for Ronnie

AC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani insists the Rossoneri will not pay over the odds for Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho.

After a disappointing and injury-hit season, Ronaldinho has been told by Barca that he is not part of their plans as they make wholesale changes after two trophy-less campaigns.

There has been no shortage of interest for the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year and, while Galliani claims that Milan are leading the pack, he insists a deal for the Brazilian will only be completed if the price is right.

"It seems to me that Ronaldinho has placed Milan at the top of his desires, even if Chelsea has a lot of appeal," he said.

"We have to see how much the final cost will be, the transfer and then his signing-on fee. But I don't promise anything to the fans.

"In any case in attack we already have (Marco) Borriello, (Filippo) Inzaghi, Kaka, (Alexandre) Pato and not only those, so if we can get someone else then good, if not we'll stay how we are. We're already competitive.

"I'm not happy not making big signings, I'm a fan too, but a big transfer will only be done if there's the right conditions.

"Players who cost, between wages and other things, 20 million euros a year, aren't compatible with Italian clubs' bank balances.

"Galliani's comments come a day after Manchester City's executive chairman Garry Cook claimed the Premier League club had a "50-50" chance of signing Ronaldinho.Galliani has also poured cold water on the idea that former Milan star Andriy Shevchenko would be leaving Chelsea for a return to the San Siro.

"If Sheva comes to Italy, he comes to us," he continued. "He was one of our targets but we have been told that he is not for sale."

The club's supporters have been angered by Milan's lack of movement in the transfer market, especially after what they perceive to be a poor season for the Serie A giants.

The Rossoneri finished fifth last campaign, missing out on a Champions League place, and the fans have laid the blame for their miserable year squarely at the door of club owner Silvio Berlusconi.

An online petition has been set up demanding that the Italy prime minister sells up and has over 1,700 signatories but Galliani has slammed the fans' actions.

"Everyone thinks a lot about the fans and not at the problems which club owners have with the Italian tax authorities," he added.

"I find this protest by the Milan fans a bit bizarre, Berlusconi is the one who has won the most in Italy and in Europe.

"And even this year he will make a huge sacrifice because Milan have kept onto all of their stars even though we are in the UEFA Cup.

"But 1,500 people are free to think what they want. But to sell it to who?"

The Ultimate Soccer 11 (And Four Who Just Missed)

We presented soccer sage Tyler Duffy with a challenge: Using a 3-5-2 formation, pick the best team in the world. And then select their backups. Some might argue that the 4-4-2 is more commonly used, but this formation is a cheesy attempt to squeeze in another talented midfielder, since there seem to be more of those than skilled defenders. Seen here, two of the 11’s finest, Ronaldo and Messi.

GK: Gigi Buffon (Juventus, Italy):Gigi is possibly a facist, and possibly bet on Juventus matches, but he makes saves so impossible you can’t tell whether he intended them.

D: Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea, Portugal):Carvalho’s nickname is The Master of the Dark Arts and Wayne Rooney isn’t his biggest fan. But, the Portugal man may be the best pure defender in the world and, unlike John Terry, he can be an effective player with the ball.

D: Rio Ferdinand (Man U, England):Rio is a renaissance man. He enjoys Christmas parties, cypriot vacations with Frank Lampard and the occasional puff. He may also be found “merking” his teammates like an even less funny Ashton Kutcher. He’s also a tremendous athlete and a suffocating physical presence for opposing forwards.

D: Nemanja Vidic (Man U, Serbia):Vidic is a solid, no-nonsense defender. He’s the perfect yin to Ferdinand’s yang.

M: Cristiano Ronaldo (Man U, Portugal):Enough said.

M: Cesc Fabregas (Arsenal, Spain):Cesc is the best pure passer in the world, and has added a flair for the dramatic goal. He matured greatly last season and during the Euros.

M: Michael Essien (Chelsea, Ghana):Essien is soccer’s meast. He’s powerful. He’s quick. He can play any position. And, he can score goals like this. It’s hard to believe that he’s still so underrated.

M: Kaka (AC Milan, Brazil):He led Milan oldsters to Champions League glory. Best player on the Brazilian national team. Has a miraculous aura, which is not surprising, since he belongs to Jesus.

M: Wesley Sneijder (Real Madrid, Netherlands):He was the best player in Spain for much of the 2007-08 season, and the heat behind the Dutch Oven at Euro 2008.

F: Fernando Torres (Liverpool, Spain):Scored the Euro 2008 Final winner for Spain. He was the best striker by far in England last season. Well respected by men, even if he is a pretty boy.

F: Leo Messi (Barcelona, Argentina):The Maradona comparisons are apt. Messi may be the best player in the world when healthy. Hopefully his growth hormone treatments as a child haven’t screwed him up permanently.

Apologies to GK: Iker Casillas (Real Madrid, Spain), D:Kolo Toure (Arsenal, Ivory Coast), M:Frank Ribery (Bayern Munich, France), F: David Villa (Valencia, Spain).

Five to watch: Alexandre Pato (A.C. Milan, Brazil), Sergio Aguero (Atletico Madrid, Argentina), Daniele De Rossi (AS Roma, Italy), Theo Walcott (Arsenal, England), Javier Mascherano (Liverpool, Argentina).

BrasiliANA

While Gisele graces the cover of GQ in the US, Ana Beatriz Barros takes over GQ in Italy.





Strangely enough both spreads look almost identical even though Gisele was shot by Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, and Ana was photographed by Richard Kern.

The sexy cover of Italian GQ with Ana Beatriz is after the jump.




The magazine also has a feature on soccer star Alexandre Pato.

Pato to play alongside Ronaldinho

Not much has been happening in transfer news this summer. Most of the news has been flooded with Cristiano Ronaldo and Real Madrid. I’m so over

it at the moment and hope C. Ronaldo moves to Real and they end up trophyless next season.The real story that I’m worried about is if AC Milan will land Ronaldinho. Alot of people have said Milan do not need him because they have Kaka but I think Milan can do well with having Ronaldinho in the team.
Milan have struggled for strikers since the lost of

They have not been able to land a striker and to be honest there aren’t too many star strikers available anyway. Galliani mentioned at the end of the season that there could be a possibility of Kaka playing upfront. Could you imagine that with Ronaldinho in the team?

You can have Kaka and Pato up front with Ronaldinho, Pirlo and Seedorf supporting them. It would be a dream attack for any club in any league.

This may well happen as Ronaldinho clearly does not want to play for Manchester City. The English club has offered Barcelona the asking price and are willing to pay Ronaldinho £200k a week. Now that should have been a done deal but the only reason why Ronaldinho has not moved to Manchester City is because he does not want to play for them. Ronaldinho being a star player will not play for a B grade team. No offense to Manchester City but they are no Barcelona or Milan.

Ronaldinho’s brother Roberto De Assis has confirmed that Ronaldinho wants to play for Milan and Milan want Ronaldinho.

“Nothing has changed. We know that Milan like Ronaldinho and that Ronaldinho likes Milan and we will continue to work to bring the best player in the world to the best club in the world,” De Assis stated.

He adde “We have always had a good relationship with Milan and always been in contact,”

If Ronaldinho does move to Milan I can bet you more people will be watching the UEFA Cup this year.

“The possibility that Ronaldinho will play in the red and black shirt next year is still there and is the same as a few months ago.

Milan confirm Adebayor focus

Milan have again stated that Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor is their sole summer transfer target.

The Serie A giants accept they face a tough task to prise the Togo striker away from Emirates Stadium, but will not look elsewhere if they fail to secure his services.

Chelsea striker Didier Drogba, Barcelona stars Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o, Lyon ace Karim Benzema and Ajax hitman Klaas Jan Huntelaar had all been linked with a move to Giuseppe Meazza.

But vice-president Adriano Galliani insisted last week that they were only interested in Adebayor, and he has moved to reiterate that stance.

Arsenal Long-Term Target Brazilian Diogo Wanted By Unnamed Serie A Side

Premier League club Arsenal target Diogo Luis Santo has had an alternative offer from an unnamed Serie A side, making it a two-way race for the 21-year old Brazilian striker.

Diogo, who plays for Brazilian team Portuguesa-SP, has already had two offers for him by the Gunners turned down. Portuguesa director Andre Heleno has also confirmed that the Italians bid was turned down, with it also not meeting the clubs valuation of the player, although it is thought it was not by far.

“So far the best offer has been from an Italian side who I cannot name,” Andre Heleno told the press.
“They have bid around £9million, but we want closer to £11million.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been trying to sign Diogo for the last three months, revealed club President Manuel da Lupa, also confirming the rejection of the two offers made.

Lupa also stated his plan to increase Diogo’s value to gain maximum profit from his star player.

“We want Diogo to play in the Brazilian league until the end of the year, reach the national team, and increase his value,” he said.

His agent Rodrigo Righetti has admitted that his client would favour a move to the Premiership to join Arsenal.

“Diogo would love to play for Arsenal. But for now, he must wait for an offer that suits both the club and himself,” he said

One stumbling block however could be a British work permit, with it unlikely Diogo would get one for next season, unless he was able to make a successful ‘Special talent’ visa application.

Diogo scored 22 goals in 29 appearances for Portuguesa last season and will line up alongside AC Milan forward Alexandre Pato at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Scolari for chelsea job,new season

INNSBRUCK, Austria (AP) - If Luiz Felipe Scolari feared his impending move to Chelsea might distract him from guiding Portugal toward a European Championship title, he needn't have worried.

The Chelsea fans, the British media, the bookmakers and, who knows, even Blues owner Roman Abramovich, are doing his new job for him.

The Portugal coach is on his way to one of the biggest and toughest jobs in soccer. Judging by Portugal's form and results, he could well go there with a European title to go along with the 2002 World Cup he won as Brazil's coach.

With this in mind, he can easily concentrate on Portugal and has effectively banned all talk of the Chelsea job from news conferences, the next of which is Saturday, the day before his team faces already-eliminated Switzerland in Group A. But the British media, with no team to follow because the English, Irish, Scots and Welsh all failed to qualify, are hungry for stories about Scolari and Chelsea.

The old season is not even cold and the new one is effectively beginning with Friday's announcement of the draw for the third tier League Cup and Monday's release of the full Premier League schedule. That means the European Championship takes something of a back seat compared with the transfer news involving the likes of Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo and Chelsea's Frank Lampard. Scolari's move to Chelsea has topped it all.

There are so many implications to the move.

Before it was announced, the fact that former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho had joined Inter Milan prompted speculation that some of his Portuguese countrymen - such as Ricardo Carvalho and Paulo Ferreira - might follow him from Stamford Bridge to San Siro.

With the current - for now - coach going to west London, Carvalho and Ferreira likely will be happy to stay.

Then there is the Brazilian connection.

Newspapers are suggesting that Chelsea - with a seemingly bottomless pit of the owner's cash to spend - might tempt AC Milan to let go of Kaka or Alexandre Pato. Or Scolari might join the chase for FC Barcelona's Ronaldinho and Real Madrid's Robinho, both out of form but with the talent to bounce back under a different coach.

The British bookmakers are already thinking even further ahead.

Not only are they offering odds on what titles he will win with the Blues next season, they have even opened a book on how long he will last at Stamford Bridge and who will replace him.

With Portugal doing well at its third straight major championship - Scolari also led the team to the final at Euro 2004 and semifinals of the 2006 World Cup - he can also keep an eye on other Chelsea stars, such as Germany's Michael Ballack, Petr Cech of the Czech Republic and Claude Makelele and Nicolas Anelka of France.

Scolari's arrival for the first time in English soccer comes two years after he turned another huge job down. The Football Association interviewed him for the national team role after it was known that Sven-Goran Eriksson was leaving and reportedly spoke to him three times. But Scolari was scared off by the impact a demanding and inquisitive media might have on his family and stayed with Portugal.

England chose Steve McClaren, who wasn't even second choice, failed to qualify for Euro 2008 and now Fabio Capello is in charge.

Negotiations for Scolari's move to Chelsea are understood to have begun a month ago and even the Portuguese federation admitted they have been going on "for some time."

There is one part of this championship which appears to be preparing Scolari for the Premier League - the appalling weather.

Torrential rain both in Switzerland and Austria has plagued the tournament with the conditions from Basel to Klagenfurt resembling February rather than June.

Scolari has it still to come, but now he has a feel for what it's like in Manchester, Birmingham and Newcastle - albeit without the mountains.

I Want To Be A Soccer Wife

Just in time for Valentine's Day in Brazil, Caras magazine published pictures of 18-year-old soccer star Alexandre Pato vacationing in the Maldives with his girlfriend actress Sthefany Brito. The kid has put on a six-pack and is developing into the next big merchandising machine a la Cristiano Ronaldo or Kaká.

Pato Clips(WOW).

Pato 2, Milan 2-0 Genoa



Pato vs Sweden



Alexandre Pato... when he was 16... enjoy



PATO the Best!! (AC Milan, Brazil)

Pato hopes to play with Ronaldo once more

Pato is hoping to play alongside his childhood hero once more.

“I would like it a lot if we could play together,” Pato, 17, told GQ magazine.

“We are really good friends.

“Ronnie is going through a rough patch at the moment. The media are always hounding him.

“Nevertheless, he has such a great character that I expect he will get over his injury and image problems.

“We talk all the time, but never about football. He always asks me how I am doing. It’s crazy, Ronaldo is my idol.”

The teenage sensation also shared his opinion on the Italian game and it seems as if he had to learn fast the hard way.

“I remember Cristian Ledesma repeatedly hitting me - massacring me. I was not bothered. Actually, I like playing this way. It has made me grow up,” said Pato

“In Brazil, you get the ball and are allowed 20 seconds to look up and think about what you are going to do.

“Here, instead, you have three seconds to do something before someone like Ledesma arrives.”

Pato scored nine goals in 18 games for Milan this season and in that explosive form he is sure to be one of the best in future if he continues working hard at San Siro.

Rosell promises Pato if he becomes Barca President

Rosell who is challenging to become the next President of Barcelona is promising Pato has a gift to fans.

Barcelona has not won any trophies for two years and the hopes to change that around next season.

Rosell has stated that he will sign “a star not fully established, but someone who will excite the Nou Camp”, and that player is believed to be AC Milan’s Alexandre Pato.

Pato had an awesome debut season and I’m pretty sure that Milan will not be selling Pato anytime soon so Barcalona will have to target another star player.

Club A.C. Milan

Incumbent European champions A.C. Milan officially confirmed the signing of Pato on August 2, 2007.He stated before that Ronaldo and Kaká are his idols. The transfer fee paid amounts to the minimum fee clause in Pato's contract with SC Internacional for €22 million. His debut was a dream come true for young Alexandre Pato, scoring his first AC Milan goal at the San Siro.

Due to Italian football regulations regarding non-EU minors, Pato was unable to play official matches for Milan until January 3, 2008, when the Italian transfer window and registration reopened.However, AC Milan was allowed to include the player in friendlies and training beginning September 3, 2007, one day after his 18th birthday. Pato made his non-competitive debut in a 2–2 draw against Dynamo Kiev on September 7, 2007 and scored a header. on January 4, 2008, Pato's transfer to Milan became official.

Pato scored his first Milan goal in his Serie A début against S.S.C. Napoli in a 5–2 home victory on January 13, 2008. He scored his first brace for Milan in a 2–0 victory over Genoa C.F.C. in San Siro on January 27, 2008.

International.

Pato began his playing career at Internacional in Porto Alegre, where he played for both the youth and senior teams between 2001 and 2007. On his first team debut, at the age of 17, Pato helped Internacional to a 4-1 win over Palmeiras on November 26, 2006. He had created three of the goals and scored the other goal.

Pato scored Internacional's second goal of the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup on December 13 in the semi-final game against Al-Ahly Cairo, helping the team win 2–1 and a spot in the final. With this goal, Pato took Pelé's record as youngest scorer in the history of official FIFA competitions (17 years and 102 days, against Pelé's 17 years and 239 in the 1958 FIFA World Cup against Wales). He was substituted in the final of the competition, before team-mate Adriano Gabiru scored the winner, ensuring the title for Internacional.



Pato was linked to several high profile clubs including Benfica,Juventus, Inter,Chelsea and Arsenal.

He helped Brazil win the 2007 South American Youth Championship, which qualified the country for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and has been selected by Dunga for the 2008 Summer Olympics.

He scored his first goal for the senior team on his debut against Sweden at the Emirates Stadium on March 26, 2008.

Alexandre Pato played with Brazil versus Venezuela on June 6 at the Gillette Stadium in Foxboro.

Alexandre Pato.

Personal information
Full name : Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva
Date of birth September 2, 1989 (1989-09-02) (age 18)
Place of birth : Pato Branco, Brazil
Height : 1.79 m (5 ft 10+1⁄2 in)
Playing position : Striker

Club information
Current club : AC Milan
Number : 7

Youth clubs
2000–2006 : Internacional

Alexandre started playing futsal at the age of 4. His ability soon became known all around the south Brazilian state of Paraná. After being praised by many of his managers, the teenager went to Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, to try out for Internacional. In 2001, at the age of 11, he moved there and started sharing housing with 83 other teenagers that, much like him, wanted to make a name for themselves in the Internacional first team.

In 2000, when Alexandre was 10 years old, x-rays from a broken bone revealed that he had a tumor in his arm. The doctors realized that the tumor would become cancerous in two months if not removed. Alexandre's family could not afford the surgery to remove the tumor, but the doctor, Paulo Roberto Mussi, was a family friend, and operated for free. This event was particularly significant because it occurred in a very crucial year when Alexandre was working towards a professional career with Internacional.

He adopted the nickname Alexandre Pato ("Alex the Duck"), after the city where he was born.