MILAN – Ronaldinho’s arrival at AC Milan has led to a huge surge in season ticket sales and hits on the club’s official website.
The Brazil forward, who has signed from Barcelona, was due to be formally unveiled to press and fans at a special party at the San Siro late yesterday. The official website (www.acmilan.com) reported that it had received more than 10 times the average daily volume of visitors since news of the 28-year-old’s transfer.On Wednesday, when Ronaldinho arrived in Milan, Rossoneri fans snapped up 5,230 season tickets out of a total of 18,518 sold during the whole of the close-season subscription period.Supporters were unable to buy season tickets yesterday though after Milan said there was a technical problem.The club, who finished a disappointing fifth in Serie A last season, did not say if the glitch was because of the high demand.Barcelona agreed late on Tuesday to sell the Brazil forward for an initial fee of 21 million euros ($33.5 million) following two days of talks with Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani.Ronaldinho and Galliani flew into Milan earlier on Wednesday and went straight to the Milanello training ground where the squad was gathering for the first day of pre-season work.Some 4,000 fans were outside the gates to welcome the 28-year-old playmaker, who was Fifa World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 but struggled last season with form and fitness.Milan endured a tough time last season, losing their Champions League crown after falling to Arsenal in the last 16 and then finishing fifth in Serie A and only qualifying for the Uefa Cup this term.Coach Carlo Ancelotti has been under huge pressure in the last few months but he said he was thrilled to get back to work after the close season break with Ronaldinho’s arrival making him even happier.Italy fullback Gianluca Zambrotta and France midfielder Mathieu Flamini were other notable buys from Barca and Arsenal.Nampa-ReutersThe official website (www.acmilan.com) reported that it had received more than 10 times the average daily volume of visitors since news of the 28-year-old’s transfer.On Wednesday, when Ronaldinho arrived in Milan, Rossoneri fans snapped up 5,230 season tickets out of a total of 18,518 sold during the whole of the close-season subscription period.Supporters were unable to buy season tickets yesterday though after Milan said there was a technical problem.The club, who finished a disappointing fifth in Serie A last season, did not say if the glitch was because of the high demand.Barcelona agreed late on Tuesday to sell the Brazil forward for an initial fee of 21 million euros ($33.5 million) following two days of talks with Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani.Ronaldinho and Galliani flew into Milan earlier on Wednesday and went straight to the Milanello training ground where the squad was gathering for the first day of pre-season work.Some 4,000 fans were outside the gates to welcome the 28-year-old playmaker, who was Fifa World Player of the Year in 2004 and 2005 but struggled last season with form and fitness.Milan endured a tough time last season, losing their Champions League crown after falling to Arsenal in the last 16 and then finishing fifth in Serie A and only qualifying for the Uefa Cup this term.Coach Carlo Ancelotti has been under huge pressure in the last few months but he said he was thrilled to get back to work after the close season break with Ronaldinho’s arrival making him even happier.Italy fullback Gianluca Zambrotta and France midfielder Mathieu Flamini were other notable buys from Barca and Arsenal.Nampa-Reuters
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