I actually didn't realise that anyone over the age of 12 was ever taken in by these "It's always been my boyhood dream to play for Barcelona/Milan/Chelsea/Coventry City/Northwich Victoria" speeches. That's why I assumed it was another wind up

I didn't say it was his boyhood dream, but he's indicated a desire to play in Milan for some time now. You're welcome to be jerk about it to me and assume he's putting a brave face on things. Whether he'd secretly prefer to be at Chelsea or wherever is anybody's guess.

Well, I don't think he'd secretly prefer to be anywhere - he's just interested in what pays well. If Chelsea had put in an offer for him with a better wage I think it's pretty obvious he would have taken it.

ad hoc wrote:

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Well, I don't think he'd secretly prefer to be anywhere - he's just interested in what pays well. If Chelsea had put in an offer for him with a better wage I think it's pretty obvious he would have taken it.

Maybe. Especially if you believed the reports that he put out feelers in 2007. At any rate I see no reason to doubt that he's quite happy to play for Milan this year, all things considered. No one's saying Milan aren't taking some risk in buying him, or that he hasn't lost a lot of his luster recently.

But you wrote: I think this discounts the fact that Ronaldinho clearly wanted to go to Milan and nowhere else. Which is "clear" to very few people, I reckon. All we know is that he'd rather play for Milan than Man City. Which isn't a massive surprise, let's face it.

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But you wrote: I think this discounts the fact that Ronaldinho clearly wanted to go to Milan and nowhere else. Which is "clear" to very few people, I reckon. All we know is that he'd rather play for Milan than Man City. Which isn't a massive surprise, let's face it.

There were sniffs and rumors of other pursuers in recent months (like Inter), and in recent months Ronaldinho made it known that he was interested in Milan above all. It doesn't mean it's always been Milan for him, or that he never considered Chelsea or would never consider them in future. But in the climate that existed for him, he wanted to go to Milan and it was clear the interest was mutual. I have little doubt that that prevented other lesser clubs from making the effort, but Man City went and had a go. Now maybe his desire to be in Milan was in some way a product of having been snubbed by Chelsea, but that would likely be an exceptional case.

BrunoMaggiore wrote:

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Yeah, it'd be cool if we judged the importance of every football club by whether they'd gotten into Champions League that season.

It doesn't matter if we do but players do and if Ronaldinho could command his Milan fee and wages at a club that is in next season's CL then he'd be there now.

The idea that he might have signed for Milan for their "importance" is one of the funnier delusions you've betrayed on this thread.

Why exactly do you think he wants to play for them so much, exactly?

BrunoMaggiore wrote:

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As for "you've already got Kaka" so does Brazil but that never stopped them from fielding both players.

Effectively? In recent years?

Harri Saer wrote:

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It doesn't matter if we do but players do and if Ronaldinho could command his Milan fee and wages at a club that is in next season's CL then he'd be there now.

Not necessarily. You can't think of any likely exceptions? I don't think it unlikely he'd rather live in Italy than in England for one thing, but maybe he would like Chelsea even more than Milan. The reasons that never went through may be complex. Mancini at Inter went public wanting him, too, but then they apparently decided they didn't need him at that position. The partying and weight gain fooferaw were well known to Mancini. Other clubs may not have bid for him for reasons having nothing to do with his recent poor form. Others he likely would not want to sign a contract with despite their being in next season's Champions League.

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The idea that he might have signed for Milan for their "importance" is one of the funnier delusions you've betrayed on this thread.

I assume he signed for Milan because they were more important than Man City anyway. The club is known to offer attractions for players apart from salary.

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Why exactly do you think he wants to play for them so much, exactly?

Maybe he liked what he saw and heard from the players there? Maybe he likes the coach and the facilities? Maybe being part of a team with that kind of worldwide fan base is important to him? Why don't you ask him? While you're at it ask him why he started going to seed at Barcelona. Maybe it was for personal reasons having little or nothing to do with boredom with his recent success. Sometimes players like or fall out with clubs for reasons other than money.

Again I'm not saying this wasn't a less than ideal career position he created for himself. And heck, it prolly won't come up roses in the end. But as gambles go I don't think it's a crazy one.

Harri Saer wrote:

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BrunoMaggiore wrote:

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As for "you've already got Kaka" so does Brazil but that never stopped them from fielding both players.

Effectively? In recent years?

Look, what are you doing here instead of out coaching some top flight team. Clearly you know best. Ronnie and Kaka have played together well with Brazil, though no, they did not do well at the last World Cup. How they play together at Milan will be affected by the entirely different roster around them there than with the Brazilian national side. Your point that they don't need him because they "already have Kaka" implied they were interchangeable players, but of course they aren't. Whether they get the right chemistry remains to be seen.

kaka is joining chelsea for £80m.