Soccer-Milan's Ronaldinho excited to play with Kaka

Brazil forward Ronaldinho said he was mostly looking forward to teaming up again with compatriot Kaka as he was unveiled as an AC Milan player on Thursday.

The San Siro was almost half full to welcome the 28-year-old, who wore a Milan kit as he waved to the crowd from the pitch.

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has said the former Barcelona man will probably play alongside Kaka in a Christmas tree formation with a main striker just ahead of them.

It is not just the Rossoneri fans and their coach drooling over the idea.

"I will be exciting to play with Kaka. He is among the best in the world. He is also a friend, in the national team we play well together," said Ronaldinho, who unlike Kaka is being allowed by the club to play at next month's Olympics.

"Every player dreams of playing for Milan. It is a special emotion and I hope to bring happiness to all the fans."

http://uk.reuters.com/article/worldFootballNews/idUKL1725037620080717

Bayer get their Brazilian

Bayer Leverkusen have signing 20-year-old midfielder Renato Soares de Oliveira Augusto from Brazilian outfit Flamengo.

Leverkusen had been searching for a new midfielder in Brazil for several weeks and they are happy with their capture, even if he was harder to sign than expected.

"They were very difficult and complex negotiations with Flamengo and a lot of praise goes to our general manager Michael Reschke who was able to conclude the transfer," said Bayer business manager Wolfgang Holzhauser on the club's website.

Renato Augusto has signed a five-year deal with the Bundesliga side, joining for an undisclosed fee, and will join his new team-mates next week.

He becomes the first Brazilian at the club since Roque Junior left in 2006.

http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/0,16368,3033_3803266,00.html

Pato - We Could Use Kakà in Beijing

Brazil’s 18-year-old starlet wishes his idol and AC Milan team-mate, Ricardo Kakà, were traveling to Beijing with him to participate in the Olympic Games.

Brazilian youngster Alexandre Pato, who joined AC Milan in January from SC Internacional for €22million, has spoke about Brazil’s national coach Carlos Dunga and his Olympic mission one month before the games get under way.

“Those who criticize Dunga don’t know what a great manager he is,” he said. “At the moment, however, I am entirely focused on the Olympics - it’s the dream of every player.”

Pato expressed delight over the presence of Ronaldinho in Brazil’s Olympic squad, but wishes Kakà were there too: “This experience will be all the more special for me because I will play alongside Ronaldinho. Kakà? He would have been important for Brazil. He wasn’t able to come because of his age and because Milan wasn’t obligated to let him come.”

Brazil will compete in the competition’s Group C against hosts China, New Zealand and Belgium.

http://www.goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=770299

Confirmed: Kaka misses Olympic Games

AC Milan confirmed through a statement they won't release Kaka to take part of next Olympic Games; instead, they did release Alexandre Pato and Rodrigo Digao.

AC Milan ratified through a new statement (they issued a statement last May) their refusal to release Brazilian player Kaka to be part of upcoming Olympic Games.

This way, the player ruled out the team owner Silvio Berlusconi, who said he was not going to China because he was tired.

Last May, AC Milan stated through counselor Adriano Galliani that they will "never" release Kaka to join Brazil Olympic team since he is above 23 for he needs a permission from the team.

Conversely, the Milan-based team did release U-23 players Alexander Pato and Rodrigo Digao.

http://www.sportsya.com/english/news.php/Kaka_will_miss_next_Olympic_Games_but_Alexander_Pato_Rodrigo_Digao_will_go.html?id_estruc=283&id=182082

Kaka still experiencing pain after knee surgery, expects to be fit by mid-July

AC Milan's playmaker Kaka says he is still in pain after undergoing knee surgery, but that he's on track to rejoin the Serie A team to prepare for the upcoming season.

The 26-year-old Brazilian, who is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery in Rio de Janeiro on May 23, made a short trip to Milan to film a commercial, Italian daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported Tuesday.

"I'm doing physiotherapy and I am satisfied," Kaka told Gazzetta. "The knee still hurts a bit, but I am sure it will improve soon."

Kaka said he would be fit by July 16, when Milan will assemble to begin training for the next season. Due to the surgery, the player was dropped from Brazil's team for two World Cup qualifiers last month.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/07/01/sports/EU-SOC-Kaka-Knee-Surgery.php