Ronaldo Lima

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Serie A: Milan's Ronaldo set to return at Atalanta

ROME, Nov 8 (Reuters) - AC Milan's Ronaldo is expected to make his first appearance of the season on Sunday in their Serie A visit to Atalanta after recovering from a nagging leg problem.

The Brazilian striker was included in Milan's squad for Tuesday's Champions League match at Shakhtar Donetsk, but did not take part in the 3-0 win.

His return to fitness is a much-needed boost for the European champions, who are 11 points behind Serie A leaders Inter Milan in ninth place.

Milan's home form has been particularly poor, so they may be happy to face Atalanta, who are four points above them in sixth, in Bergamo.

Milan have not won a league game this season at the San Siro, where they have picked up only four points and scored three goals. But they thrashed Sampdoria and Lazio 5-0 and 5-1 in their last two away matches.

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These are the concepts expressed by Carlo Ancelotti in the press conference on the eve of Atalanta-Milan: “Ronaldo has not played in the past three months. Physically he’s fine, he’s working and it’s important that he’s ok. We find back a player who also last year gave an important contribution, in certain games with his quality he can give us a big help. He’s still not in the optimal condition to play from the start, but in any case in general I have not yet decided. He can play both as an advanced finisher, but also in a position behind that. Ronaldo does not have the continuity of the ninety minutes, but he can play without continuity. During his career he always turned off and on in an instant during the games. Ronaldo worked three months on his own, therefore the players cannot know if he was lazy or not. He came back three days ago in the group, and since he has not worked for a long time with us, he did not start the trainings with great intensity, but all the preparatory work and physiotherapy he undertook was the expected one and prescribed till the end. Once he came late, but it happens to everyone, even to me. In these cases the rules are the same for everyone, whoever comes late pays a fine that at the end of the season is handed to the Foundation.”

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ATALANTA-MILAN

GOALKEEPERS: Dida, Kalac, Fiori;

DEFENDERS: Bonera, Cafu, Favalli, Kaladze, Maldini, Nesta, Oddo, Serginho;

MIDFIELDERS: Ambrosini, Brocchi, Gattuso, Gourcuff, Kakà, Pirlo, Seedorf;

STRIKERS: Inzaghi, Ronaldo.

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Ronaldo & Maria Beatriz Antony

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Maldini: Ronaldo Is World Class

Paolo Maldini has described Ronaldo as world-class and says he will add something extra to the Milan team now he is fit again.

Ronaldo has yet to play this season due to injury, however he is now fully recovered and would have come on as a substitute on Sunday against Atalanta had the match not been abandoned after eight minutes.

“Ronaldo is a world-class player and as such when he's fit he gives the team that something extra in terms of technique and personality,” said Maldini.

“Let's hope he's back quickly to contribute. He has innate scoring awareness because he has a unique ability to transform every ball he touches into a scoring opportunity.”

Maldini only recently returned himself after a long spell on the sidelines and he admits that he has some way to go to reach peak fitness ahead of next month’s FIFA World Club Cup.

“My physical condition is not ideal because I still feel pain due to long months of inactivity,” explained the 39-year-old legend.

“I need to play a few matches if I am to arrive in Japan at my best. Ronaldo is in the same condition as me.”

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GALLI: 'Pato is extraordinary, Ronaldo was born for the goal'

MILANELLO - At the end of the training match with the Primavera, coach Filippo Galli expressed his opinion on the goalscorers of the match: "Ever since he came I've been impressed with Pato. He always scores, and aside from that he always thinks about doing something useful to the team. It's not easy to find players of this calibre. Of course we're talking about training matches, but also in the earlier games he played with Milan or before, with other clubs, he showed he is an extraordinary player. Ronaldo moved around well, he has the goal in his DNA, his comeback is important because we know how much other players fear him."

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AC Milan’s Brazilian stars shine

Alexandre Pato and Ronaldo were the stars of the show as they went head-to-head in a training match at Milanello.

The Rossoneri were due to play a friendly against Serie C2 outfit Varese, but opted instead to play an internal test game.

All eyes were on striking starlet Pato and his compatriot Ronaldo, who is returning from a long-term thigh injury.

Neither man disappointed and the match finished 2-2 with each man bagging a brace and winning high praise from youth Coach Filippo Galli.

“Ever since he arrived Pato has impressed me,” he enthused. “He always scores and he is the kind of player who isn’t afraid to bathe in sweat.

“It’s not easy to find players of his calibre. Obviously these are just training games, but he has shown himself to be an extraordinary player in Brazil and in friendlies.

“Ronaldo is also looking good. He is a born goal scorer and his return will be important, as opposition sides fear him.”

Coach Carlo Ancelotti was also happy with what he saw and indicated that Ronaldo’s frustrating spell on the sidelines would shortly come to an end.

“Ronnie wants to play and he would have surely played part of the game in Bergamo,” he revealed. “He’ll get time in Cagliari.

“Pato is a great champion and he will prove it. All we have to do is wait until January when he is available.

“The only worry that he has at the moment is that he hasn’t learned very much Italian, but luckily footballers don’t have to say that much.

“He goes a lot on instinct and that’s something that you have inside and it can’t improve or deteriorate.

“He is lucky that God has given him that quality. Now he must exploit it and use it for the good of the team.”

Pato is available in official games from January 3 when his move from Brazilian side Internacional is finally complete.

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Thank you very much luno

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You're welcome Diego Bion

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You're welcome sandy

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Ronaldo, Zidane return to Spain for UN-sponsored Anti-Poverty match

MALAGA, Spain - AC Milan's Ronaldo and retired French international Zinedine Zidane returned to Spain for the first time since their playing days at Real Madrid to face each other in a star-studded United Nations charity match on Monday.

Ronaldo and Zidane are goodwill ambassadors for UNDP, a United Nations development program which organized the fifth Match Against Poverty. Zidane scored from a free kick and set up the other in the 2-2 draw before 33,000 fans at La Rosaleda.

It was Ronaldo's first match of the season, having injured his thigh during Milan's training camp.

But it was Zidane who stole the show early, mobbed by children - and some young adults - after they broke through security barriers before the start of the match, the former Madrid maestro's first on Spanish soil in a year and a half.

Zidane sent his free kick area into the defensive wall in the 11th minute, deflecting to beat diving FC Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes.

Ronaldo, who left Madrid in January, had his side's best chance in the opening half when he managed a shot from close range only for Peter Jehle to knock away with a reaction save.

Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher and golfer Sergio Garcia also were featured.

"I'm very happy. The fans have been fantastic," Ronaldo said after being replaced by Almeria's Alvaro Negredo in the 30th minute. "We're famous people. Fans follow us and listen to us. So we need to use this for a good cause."

Zidane reached a flick-on in the 44th only to hit the post, the rebound landing at Roque Junior's feet for an easy score.

"I'm very tired," joked Zidane after coming off in the 57th. "But for as long as I can, I will continue to play in this game."

Julios Dos Santos' header in the 61st cut the lead in half before Negredo equalized for Ronaldo's side four minutes later.

Schumacher, who had several chances, side-footed wide from close in the 82nd. Garcia, playing down the left wing, set up Sevilla striker Renato for two close chances in the final minutes.

Pierluigi Collina of Italy came out of retirement to referee the match for the second straight year.

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Ronaldo: Protect Adriano

Ronaldo believes he knows how Adriano can be returned to his former glory. “He needs help, protection and to play football.”

L’Imperatore has flown to Brazil for two months in a specialist rehabilitation clinic to recuperate his physical and psychological form.

He won’t pick up wages from Inter during that time and it is widely reported he will move on in January regardless of how the experiment goes.

“Adriano needs help and to play football,” Ronaldo told ‘Sky Italia television. “I speak very often with him, but it is pointless saying here what I think because it could cause some controversy.”

Ronnie has been critical of former club Inter for their treatment of him and seems to be implying Adriano has not received the help he needs from Roberto Mancini.

“All Adriano needs is help, protection and to play, but his Coach has not allowed him to do that. So many things written in the newspapers about him are exaggerated.”

Adri has often been lambasted in the media for an alleged partying lifestyle, while Coach Roberto Mancini has also repeatedly pointed out he must “embrace the lifestyle of an athlete.”

While his agent has denied reports of a loan move to a Brazilian club, other European sides are lining up to revitalise the Brazilian.

It is now claimed that Werder Bremen have made an official bid for Adriano, offering an option on 22-year-old Selecao talent Diego in exchange.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo too has been linked with a move away from San Siro, as there are suggestions in ‘O Globo’ that Flamengo would bring him in with sponsors Nestle paying his princely wages.

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Hair-brain: AC Milan's Ronaldo secret uncovered

Flamengo are hatching plans to bring AC Milan striker Ronaldo back to Brazil in January.

It's emerged that Flamengo's board are locked in talks with Nestle about a big sponsorship deal to fund the signing of the former World Player of the Year.

Nestle are prepared to back the bid - if Flamengo qualify for next year's Copa Libertadores.

Meanwhile, O Globo says the motivation of Ronaldo not to shave his head any longer is because he's about to sign an endorsement deal with hair-loss company Crescina.

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RONIE: GOOD SENSATIONS

"My sensations are good, even though it was not a real game, but a spectacular one, to entertain the people. I tried to move and I enjoyed myself." - THE DECLARATIONS OF RONALDO -

MILANELLO - These are the declarations of Ronaldo to Milan Channel at the end of the afternoon training session of the Rossoneri.

Ronie, are you happy to have returned for Monday's friendly game at Malaga, 'Friends of Zidane' against 'Friends of Ronaldo'?

"Yes, I'm really happy. It was very beautiful because this friendly game has proven to be a great success. I must thank all the people who in the last three weeks have purchased all the tickets. I also want to thank all the sponsors and especially the players who have proven to be helpful for this event. It was a nice evening."

What have been your sensations in returning to play in front of the public?

"My sensations have been good, even though it was not a real game, but more of a show, to entertain the people. I tried to move and I enjoyed myself."

If you were ready to go on the pitch for some minutes at Bergamo against Atalanta, now at Cagliari you can play from the first minute?

"Yes, I was ready. At Bergamo I was called-up because I was ready and now I wait for another call-up because I feel ready to play."

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