On January he was announced to be playing for AC Milan. This time the transfer costs were nowhere near an astronomical number, but a relatively average €8.05million.
Quirky detail: O Fenomeno had to pay for the remaining period on his contract which tied him to Real Madrid. The Spanish didn’t want to release him and AC Milan didn’t want to pay such a sum.
By February Ronaldo started playing for Milan and in his first six months he scored seven goals in 14 appearances.
With this move, Ronaldo join a list of few players to have played for both Milan and Ac Milan. He is also one of two players* to have scored for both teams in the Milan Derby. Milan offense had a stunning look that year with Pato, Kaka and Ronaldo playing together in a trio nicknamed Ka-Pa-Ro. During the 2007-2008 Ronaldo scored nine goals in 20 appearances.
In every great player’s career there is always a pivotal missing victory. For Ronaldo it was the UEFA Champions League. Ironically enough his team won it when he couldn’t play. Indeed Milan won the trophy in 2007 while Ronaldo was cup-tied with Madrid and therefore ineligible to take part.
Half way through the 2007-2008 season, Ronaldo’s knee troubles returned. It was the third time in his career that this injury occurred. His contract ended at the end of the season and wasn’t renewed.
It was time for him to go back to Brazil. More on Sambafoot tomorrow.
*the other player being Zlatan Ibrahimović.
