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.