Multiple outlets are reporting that Brazilian attacker Ronaldinho is leaving AC Milan — but isn’t headed to MLS’s Los Angeles Galaxy. Instead, he willreturn to the club of his youth, Gremio, which groomed him as a youngster but lost him to French club Paris St. Germain in 2001.
Gremio president PauloOdone said, “On the part of Gremio and Ronaldinho, everything is already set. What remains now is for [Ronaldinho’s agent Roberto de] Assis to negotiatethe release of the player from the I talian club. The important thing isthat Ronaldinho wants to return to Gremio, where his house is and where he learned soccer.” Also quoted was AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi, who saidsimply, “It seems that he is leaving.”
Along with the Galaxy and Gremio, Brazilian club Palmeiras had been in the hunt for the 30-year-old Ronaldinho who was left off the 2010 World Cupteam by former coach Dunga, then recalled by successor Mano Menezes for a friendly against Argentina. Ronaldinho’scontract with Milan, which he signed in 2008 after transferring from Barcelona, expires in June.