Brazilian superstar recovering from his problems, says Dunga

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SINGAPORE: A smile has returned to the face of superstar Ronaldinho following his transfer to AC Milan, Brazilian coach Dunga said yesterday as he prepares his young team for the Olympics.
Ronaldinho scored 70 goals in 145 appearances for Barcelona, helping them win the Spanish championship in 2005 and 2006 as well as the 2006 Champions League.
But after a dip in form last season, attributed by some to his penchant for late-night partying, he was deemed surplus to requirements and AC Milan signed him last week for an estimated US$30mil.
Olympic coach Dunga, who is also coach of the national team, said the two-time World Player of the Year finally seemed happy.
Getting ready: Ronaldinho taking a shot while Lucas Leiva tries to stop him during the Brazilian Olympic team’s training session in Singapore yesterday. — AFP
“Ronaldinho is a very important member of our squad and he is recovering from his problems,” he said here, where Brazil are training ahead of the Beijing Olympics.
“The most important thing is that he is happy and is smiling again. That’s made things easier for us.
“Of course the squad cannot put all the responsibility on his shoulders even though he is so important. What the team will do is support him. Hopefully he will play well.”
The 28-year-old is one of Dunga’s over-age players for the Olympics. Barcelona had initially refused to release him but AC Milan gave the go-ahead and the Games will provide a global platform for him to once again shine.
At international level he has yet to recover from his anti-climactic performance at the World Cup in Germany in 2006, and since then he has seen new Milan team-mate Kaka usurp his position as Brazil’s main threat.
But 26-year-old Kaka, linked with a move to Chelsea this week, will not be in Beijing after the Italian club refused to release him.
Another player missing is Real Madrid striker Robinho, with his club announcing on Monday that he was injured.
Brazilian football authorities were reportedly furious at Madrid for leaving their decision so late, but Dunga was marginally more diplomatic.
“Real Madrid are exercising their right, they can do that,” he said