Ronaldo - O Fenômeno

Galliani

“Ronaldo did well at Cagliari, he did the best he could after four months without playing and now he can only improve. Surely when he touches the ball, you can understand why they call him ‘Fenomeno’…”

Ancelotti

“Inzaghi is an important player, but unfortunately he’s unavailable. But we will not find excuses. I don’t think that Ronaldo will play from the start. Seedorf is fine and he will play. Therefore yes, we shall return to play with one striker and two forwards, at least at first.”

This Sunday El Fenomeno faces Juventus for the first time in Serie A since his days at Inter Milan.

During his spell at the Nerazzurri there was the notorious ‘Ronaldo incident’ from the 1997/98 season. With just four games remaining of the season, just one point separated the top-two Juventus and Inter, as they met at the Stadio Delle Alpi.

The Bianconeri were 1-0 up in the second-half, when Ronaldo was blatantly fouled by Mark Iuliano in the penalty area. The referee incredibly waved play-on, and indeed awarded a spot-kick down the other end just seconds later. Alessandro Del Piero missed it, but the Turin-giants held on to virtually guarantee themselves the Scudetto.

“It is a different Juventus compared to the one I knew, completely new and also clean,” Ronaldo told La Stampa.

“That game [in 1998] does anger me because it was obvious the desire of the referee was to make Juventus win.

“The truth however came out in the end but it is better to always forget about the past. I am happy that they have cleaned themselves up and I hope that situations like that of the past are not repeated ever again.”

-Source Goal.com

The Bianconeri captain commented on the fact that his team has done better than Milan in this early part of the season, something no one had expected.

“More than anything, Milan is behind what everyone expected, but the potential and the skill of this team and club are superior to what reality says today,” he said.

Del Piero agrees with the Golden Ball being awarded to Kaka.

“He deserves it for what he showed last season, so yes I think so.”

Finally, he spoke about Ronaldo who recently declared that his destiny is like Del Piero’s - always being discussed.

“It’s true,” commented Del Piero. “I’m happy to meet and embrace him again, and I’m happy that he’s fine. Let’s hope that on Saturday we both score.”

-Source Goal.com