AC Milan are on the verge of signing Brazil striker Ronaldo from
Real Madrid.
"Tomorrow Ronaldo will undergo a medical at Milanello and on
Monday I have got an appointment with Real," Milan vice-president
Adriano Galliani told the Spanish daily El Mundo's Web
page (www.elmundo.es) on Thursday.
"If everything goes according to plan, Ronaldo will be a Milan
player on Monday."
The striker arrived at Milan's Linate airport on Thursday
evening and was met by Galliani, who took the 30-year-old to the
San Siro to watch the first leg of the club's Italian Cup
semi-final against AS Roma.
Ronaldo was warmly applauded at the stadium by the home fans as
he made his way to his seat next to Galliani.
Spanish media reported Milan had made a six million-euro ($7.79
million) offer for the three-times FIFA World Player of the
Year.
El Mundo said Ronaldo would sign an 18-month contract with
Milan, who would offer him the chance to end his career at the club
if he lived up to expectations.
Ronaldo has been angling to leave Real since coach Fabio Capello
made it clear the Brazilian did not feature in his plans.
A transfer to Milan would represent a return to familiar
territory for the striker, who played for city rivals Inter between
1997 and 2002.
If the transfer goes through, Ronaldo will become the 10th
non-Italian to play for both Milan clubs.
He will follow in the footsteps of Patrick Vieira, Edgar Davids,
Hernan Crespo, Thomas Helveg, Dario Simic, Clarence Seedorf, Andres
Guglielminpietro, Taribo West and Victor Benitez.
(China Daily via Reuters January 26, 2007)