14/08/2007
Ronaldo bounces back from injury for first match
Ronaldo will be fit to play in AC Milan's first game of the Serie A
season against Genoa this weekend, says coach Carlo Ancelotti.
The 30-year-old Brazil striker pulled a hamstring towards the end of the
previous campaign and has yet to feature in pre-season.
He will miss Thursday's friendly at Real Betis although attacking
colleague Alberto Gilardino is back after knee surgery.
"Ronaldo will be available for the first match of the championship,"
said Ancelotti.
New signing Alexandre Pato, who media reports said cost €22 million
($40.5 million) from Internacional, cannot feature for Milan until
January under the terms of the deal but Ancelotti has already been
impressed by the 17-year-old forward.
"In January he will be able to play immediately," he said.
"In theory he could play with us today. He could calmly demonstrate even
in this team the characteristics he has already shown."
Ancelotti also denied fresh speculation in the Italian and Spanish media
linking the European champions with Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho.
"Ronaldinho? Talking about him in April could have made sense but today,
almost in the middle of August, it seems to me it is a no really," he
said.
Meanwhile, Claudio Ranieri said Juventus were not looking for
reinforcements despite the promoted side's unimpressive form in
pre-season friendlies.
"We are not buying anyone," the former Chelsea boss said.
The Turin club have been linked with Stuttgart's Portuguese defender
Fernando Meira after recent defeats to Newcastle United, Hamburg and a
1-1 draw at Sunderland.
The Juve defence has looked fragile despite the arrival of Meira's
Portugal teammate Jorge Andrade from Deportivo Coruna and Czech
international Zdenek Grygera from Ajax.
"Some might say we need a defender, a midfielder or a striker, but I say
the market is closed," Ranieri said.
He also played down reports that the Turin side plan to sell Italy
Under-21 left-back Giorgio Chiellini to Manchester City.
"I would have been surprised if Chiellini had gone, I'm not surprised
he's staying. I'm happy he's part of this squad."
