Ronaldo hopes a second stint in Italy can revitalize his career. (Jasper Juinen/Associated Press).
Soccer: John F. Molinaro
Ronaldo hoping for Italian renaissance
Last Updated Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2007
by John F. Molinaro
The city of Milan has always held a special place in Ronaldo's heart.
After enjoying a successful but brief stay in Spain with FC Barcelona, it was in the northern Italian metropolis where the Brazilian forward cemented his status as the best player on the planet during a five-year stint with Inter Milan.
Inter Milan owner Massimo Moratti and Ronaldo formed a father-and-son-like bond, so grateful was the Brazilian to the Italian oil tycoon for sticking by him when he suffered two debilitating knee injuries that nearly ended his career.
Five years after parting ways with Inter, Ronaldo is leaving Spain for Italy again and return to the city that vaulted him into global superstardom. Only this time he will play for AC Milan.
When the transfer window re-opened on Jan. 1, AC Milan began talking with Real Madrid and following a protracted negotiation came the news Thursday that the Italian club had agreed to pay the Spanish outfit about 7.5 million euros ($11.4 million Cdn) for Ronaldo, provided he passes a medical examination. The deal was made official on Tuesday.
But, while Ronaldo came to Italy 10 years ago at the top of his game, he returns in 2007 a mere shadow of the player he once was.
The Brazilian was at one time the most feared player in the game, terrorizing defenders with his speed, technical ability, beautiful ball control and piercing runs. He was a goal-scoring machine who struck terror in opposing goalkeepers.
Those days are long gone.
The current day Ronaldo, now 30, bears little resemblance to the Ronaldo who won the FIFA World Player of the Year award three times between 1997 and 2002. After having his ego massaged in Spain and being force-fed a steady diet of Real Madrid galacticismo the last few years, Ronaldo has become a bloated figure - both literally and figuratively.
All of which did escape the attention of Real Madrid manager Fabio Capello, who made little use of the out-of-form Ronaldo - the Brazilian has only appeared in seven league games this season. Capello has a track record of not suffering fools gladly, especially players with inflated egos (read: Ronaldo) who seem to believe that a place in the team's starting lineup is their birthright.
Two seasons ago, while coaching Italian league giants Juventus, Capello substituted Alessandro Del Piero a remarkable 27 times. It mattered little to Capello that Del Piero was the most beloved Juventus player in history and a club icon. Capello made it publicly known that he considered Del Piero just another player and not someone who automatically deserved to be a starter.
David Beckham, Ronaldo's Real Madrid teammate, also felt the wrath of the Italian. After spending his three previous campaigns at Madrid in the starting 11, Beckham found himself riding the bench this season, his first under Capello.
Beckham clearly saw the writing on the wall and instead of extending his contract with Real Madrid, he inked a five-year deal with the Los Angeles Galaxy of MLS.
Like Beckham before him, Ronaldo's Real Madrid exit was hastened by the Italian tactician, but the Brazilian's downfall actually began last season, long before Capello came to Madrid.
Dogged by injuries and suspensions, Ronaldo also battled bouts of inconsistency, going long stretches without scoring. In the end, he only managed 14 goals during the 2005-06 campaign, a far cry from his first three years in Spain when he scored 23 goals (in 2002-03), 24 goals (2003-04) and 21 goals (2004-05).
Questions arose in the Spanish and Brazilian media about his physical fitness - cruel jokes were made about him being too fat - and Real Madrid's own fans often jeered him during games, fed up with his lackadaisical and lacklustre play.
Ronaldo also drew criticisms from Pele and French legend Michel Platini, who both questioned his mental strength. The Real Madrid forward, who underwent a messy divorce following a three-month marriage to Brazilian model Daniella Cicarelli, looked distracted on the field.
The backlash clearly got to him. Under contract with Real Madrid until 2008, Ronaldo publicly stated he felt unwanted at the club and wanted out.
Brazilian fans even began to wonder whether he deserved a starting role on the national team - a thought that would have been inconceivable when he scored a tournament-leading eight goals at the 2002 World Cup and led Brazil to its fifth title.
The concerns proved to be well founded, though: Ronaldo barely looked fit in Germany last summer, and Brazil crashed out of the 2006 World Cup in the quarter-finals.
Now, with his reputation in tatters and critics writing him off, Ronaldo is hoping for an Italian renaissance: that a second stint in Italy can revitalize his flagging career.
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