Farewell, R10, a.k.a. “The Good Old Days”

By: Kevin | April 12th, 2008

Ah, a picture from happier times that we can all remember, because it looks like its official: Ronaldinho is now a Rossoneri. We all saw it coming, so it isn’t like anyone should be shocked at the news, which, unlike many other recent rumors of transfers and the like, comes from his brother and agent, who says that the mercurial Brazilian has agreed to terms with AC Milan, or as we should probably now call them, Brazil in Italy.

We aren’t even getting the big, fat windfall, which is most vexing. The deal will give us between 20 and 30 million Euros, with Ronaldinho buying out the rest of his Barca contract. We must have REALLY wanted to get rid of him.

Word is still coming out in a firm way, so the details are still murky. But a “preliminary agreement” has been reached with the player, with the details to be hammered out now with Barcelona management. This is almost certainly a formality because Laporta isn’t crazy, like those folks in Sevilla, and because Ronaldinho doesn’t want to be here. More importantly, management doesn’t want him here. Seems a no-brainer, and AC Milan is almost operating from a position of strength. I’ll take money on how fast he recovers from his “injury” now, not to play for us, but to capitalize on his change of scenery.

You all know how I have felt about this player, pretty much since the beginning of the season. It was clear that he was the “black sheep,” that he was being a divisive force and that all the clatter about “he isn’t going,” and “team solidarity” was all just so much nonsense. Management knew it and more importantly, the players knew it. And I think that the team is going to come together as never before, because the big, unsettling thing is resolved.

The real question now is….where, there are lots of questions, such as:

What next? Now that this is truly Messi’s team, what complementary parts should be added?
Will R10 be a bust in Italy, or will he shine, with Pato and Kaka?
Do we really care how he will do in Italy?
What happens to Blaugrana shirt sales? Don’t forget the “Beckham effect” at the Evil Empire.
Will Kxevin dance the samba of joy, now that he has his wish?

Inter Milan says that they will fight for him, but that looks unlikely to happen. He should make AC Milan a force next season, unless something happens to hurt his feelings, as here. Which leads to the biggest question of all:

What happened?

Did the reality that this was Messi’s team, from a guy who needed to be the biggest superstar, put the nail in the coffin? Was it a rift between he and Rijkaard, who finally did put his foot down with the Brazilian? Did management screw the pooch, undercutting Rijkaard and his efforts to mend fences?

We may never know, but let’s hear it.

Yes, I appreciate, and always will appreciate, all that he has done for us. He was brilliant almost from the day he arrived, reaching a glorious culmination in the year of the double. The free kicks were unerring, the passes glorious. He’s the reason that many, many people became fans of the Blaugrana.

But now, the new era begins, and there is lots to discuss.