Ronaldinho Gaucho to AC Milan: "I will make the fans happy."

Image details: AC Milan Present Ronaldinho served by picapp.com

Earlier today, the fantastic Brazilian, Ronaldinho Gaucho, officially became an AC Milan player. After a lengthy transfer that was only finalized yesterday in Barcelona, Ronaldinho joins fellow Brazilians Dida, Dragao, Kaka', and Pato. According to Milan Vice President, Adriano Galliani, Ronaldinho turned down more money and a longer contract with Manchester City to play in the Serie A.

Ronaldinho's First Comments

"Sono molto contento, dopo tanto tempo sono qui. Sono felicissimo di arrivare al Milan e spero di riuscire a dare molta allegria a tutti". E' vero, confermo di aver voluto fortemente il Milan. Sono successe tante cose e alla fine sono diventato rossonero. Sono contento di essere qui e, ripeto, spero di far divertire la gente milanista. Mi fa molto piacere trovare tanti brasiliani, ma anche i tanti campioni che vestono la maglia del Milan. Sono felice per tutto, mi ritrovo insieme ad altri brasiliani come me ma anche insieme a tuti gli altri".

"I am very happy, after such a long time I am here. I am very pleased to arrive at Milan and I hope to succeed to give joy to everyone... It is true, I confirm that I wanted to go to Milan very strongly. Many things happened and in the end I have became Milanese. I am content to be here and I repeat, I hope to make the Milanese faithful happy. It makes me happy to find so many Brazilians, but also so many other champions that wear the Milan shirt. I am happy for everyone, and I find myself together with other Brazilians like me also together with everyone else."

GALLIANI - "L’amore per Ronaldinho è un amore antico, che non è mai venuto meno. Del presidente, di tutti. Cito una frase tratta da un libro di Fabio Volo: "Importante non è quanto aspetti, ma chi aspetti". Bella. E ancora: "C’era l’ok del tecnico. Era da tempo che lo seguivamo, ma c’era da fronteggiare l’offerta del Manchester City. Alle 20.30 di ieri sera sembrava saltato tutto. Laporta, presidente del Barça, si era alzato. L’ho fatto risedere. C’erano da sistemare tanti dettagli che potevano far saltare la trattativa. Il Barcellona preferiva mandarlo in Inghilterra. E’ un giocatore da Milan. Gioca il calcio che vuole Berlusconi. Siamo felici... E’ venuto da noi perchè vuole tornare ad essere il numero uno."

"Galliani- The love for Ronaldinho is an old love that has never lessened. From the President (Prime Minister Berlusconi), to everyone. I cite a phrase from a book by Fabio Volo: 'It is important not how long you wait, but whom waits for you.' There was the okay by the manager. For a long time, we followed him, but we had to afront the offer by Manchester City. At 8:30 p.m. last night it seemed that all was lost. (Joan) Laporta, President of Barcelona, got up from the table. I got him to sit back down. We had to organize so many details that could have made the deal jump past us. Barcelona preferred to send him to England. He is a player of Milan. He will play the football that Berlusconi wants. We are very happy... He came with us because he wants to return to be the best in the world."

ANCELOTTI - "Giocherà nella posizione a lui più naturale. Anche se servirà il giusto equilibrio di squadra, con un pizzico di sacrificio di tutti. Salta la preparazione per i Giochi? Per lui l’Olimpiade sarà l’occasione per trovare una buona condizione".

"Ancelotti- He will play in his most natural position. Also if it will serve the proper balance of the team, with a little sacrifice by everyone. Will he miss the preparations for the Olympic Games? For him the Olympics will be the occassion to find his form."

MALDINI - "Da avversario è tra i più forti che abbia mai incontrato. Tornerà ai livelli che gli competono in questo ambiente".

"Maldini - As an adversary he was among the strongest that I have ever encountered. He will return to the levels that they expect of him in this environment."

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 16 July 2008.

Christian Poulsen: "I will amaze the Italian Public."

Image details: DFB Cup Final FC Schalke 04 v Bayern Munich served by picapp.com

Christian Poulsen, a Danish international, either has the most courage or the least amount of common sense to transfer from Sevilla to Juventus.

At Euro 2004, he was involved in a famous spitting incident with Francesco Totti. The Roman captain was banned for the reset of the tournament after he spat upon Poulsen after repeated provocation. Poulsen is also not on the favorites list of Ricardo Kaka', along with his manager, Carlo Ancelotti, of AC Milan. As you can see from the image above, Mr. Poulsen also had problems in Germany with a new Juventus teammate, Hasan Salihamidzic.

The fiery Danish player's reputation precedes him. Yesterday, he became an offcial player of Juventus FC. He reminds me of the American baseball legend, Ty Cobb. A player almost as hated by his own teammates as by his adversaries.

Rino Gattuso summed up the sentiments of many in his usual concise fashion:

"He has big stones to come to Serie A."

Source: Goal.com.

Here were his first comments:

"Voglio stupire il publicco italiano."

FELICITA' POULSEN - "Sono molto felice di entrare a far parte di un club così prestigioso - ha dichiarato il danese - La Juventus è una delle squadre più importanti del mondo e mi auguro di poter far bene. Sono un centrocampista difensivo ma sono anche in grado di giocare in posizione più avanzata. La mia speranza è riuscire a regalare una sorpresa al pubblico italiano, che mi considera un giocatore rude, mostrando di avere anche una buona tecnica. Avrò tempo per dimostrarlo e per dare un'altra immagine di me. Il Siviglia? E' stata un'ottima esperienza ma ora sono orgoglioso di essere alla Juve".

"I want to amaze the Italian public."

Happiness of Poulsen - "I am very happy to enter and become part of a club that is so prestigious, declared the Dane, Juventus is one of the most important teams of the world, and I desire to be able to do well. I am a defensive midfielder but I am also able to play in a more advanced position. My hope is to succeed to provide a surprise to the Italian public, who considers me a crude player, showing to also have a good technical base. I will have time to demonstrate this and to give another image of myself. Sevilla? It has been a great experience and now I am proud to be at Juve."

Source: La Gazzetta dello Sport, 14 July 2008.

Mister Mourinho's First Press Conference

Last month, I was able to watch excerpts of Mr. Mourinho's unveiling in Milan on La Gazzetta dello Sport TV online.

Here were a few comments by Mr. Mourinho:

"I have arrived at a special club...

I have never forgotten that I am a great coach, but I don't want to be anything special...

Inter gave me the opportunity to work in this fantastic footballing country. It was asked who is Jose Mourinho? Jose Mourinho always works with great passion. I am different because I work differently...

I like the mentality of Inter, and I only need 2 or 3 players to improve the group to make it more competitive. I'd like to change the footballing mentality...

I have seen many of their games this past year. I like the team...

I am not a moron..."

His Italian was impeccable. The only word he mispronounced was "special." ;-)

Massimo Moratti is paying Mister Mourinho 9 million euros a year, net, over the next three years, to bring European glory back to the Nerazzurri.

Of note for any interpreters and translators in the audience. Even though he is the son of a former professional goalkeeper, and a defender during his brief playing career, Mr. Mourinho launched his coaching activities as an interpreter for Sir Bobby Robson at Benfica and Barcelona, respectively.

I look forward to the Derby D'Italia between Inter and Juventus. When Mr. Mourinho took over at Chelsea in 2004 for Mr. Ranieri, the former said, "He never won anything, and I am a European champion."