Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani doesn't believe signing Ronaldinho was a gamble...

The Rossoneri signed the Brazilian ace from Barcelona in the summer amidst much hype and skepticism.

Adriano Galliani has reiterated his stance on the attacking midfielder and he believes the move, for him, was worth it.

"Ronaldinho was not a winning bet because we never wager on anything," Galliani told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.

"We buy players who we think are useful for our team and 'Dinho has proved to be so for Milan.

"We never discovered Ronaldinho, he came here after having won a Ballon d'Or, a FIFA World Player of the Year, a World Cup, a Champions League, everthing.

"He wasn't an unknown youngster; he was just a champion going through a cloudy moment and we were convinced he would be able to overcome that."

The Seleçao star has been in hot form for his side. He has been the hero in three of their last four games. Milan welcome relegation strugglers Chievo Verona to San Siro on Sunday afternoon.

Ronaldo has not played since injuring his knee in February

Manchester City have rejected Brazil striker Ronaldo's claims that he is on the verge of joining his compatriot Robinho at Eastlands.

The 31-year-old three-time world player of the year, currently recovering from a serious knee injury, is a free agent after leaving AC Milan in the summer.

Ronaldo was quoted as saying City had made "the best offer I've received".

However, a City spokesman said the club met Ronaldo's representatives but chose not to follow up their interest.

"We had shown a past interest in bringing the player to the football club in the right circumstances and spoke to him and his representatives," revealed the spokesman.

"However, we have chosen not to pursue the matter."

The former Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan forward has been plagued by injury problems in recent seasons and has not played since he ruptured a knee ligament while turning out for Milan in February.

But the French surgeons who operated on his left knee have said Ronaldo could be fit to play after two to three months of heavy work-outs to build up the strength in his leg.

Ronaldo said he could help make City "one of the best clubs in the world" and predicted a partnership with Robinho could yield 50 goals in the Premier League.

"I like the project that City presented me," said Ronaldo, who has been training with Brazilian club Flamengo.

"It's the best offer I've received and it will be interesting to play with Robinho."

City stunned the football world with the £32.5m record signing of Robinho from Real Madrid and the club's new owners Abu Dhabi United Group have spoken about bringing several world-class players to Eastlands.

Liverpool's Fernando Torres, Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas and Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo are some of the names that City's owners have revealed they want to sign.

Manchester City came from behind to clinch a crucial victory against Omonia Nicosia at a packed Neo G.S.P Stadium in Cyprus.

The Cypriot outfit took a shock lead at the start of the second half from a powerful free-kick by the dangerous Klodian Duro, but a brace from Jo gave Mark Hughes’ side the win after the forward had missed numerous early chances.

City began quickly with Shaun Wright-Phillips skipping past Omonia full-back Stathis Aloneftis, while on the opposite flank Robinho squandered an early chance, hitting his shot straight at Antonis Giorgallides when through on goal.

Javier Garrido made his mark on the home side’s outstanding player Dimitris Christophi, scything down the midfielder as he advanced towards the City box, but the subsequent free-kick was wasted by Giannakis Okkas.

In the 26th minute, Jo missed a glorious chance to put City in-front, slicing wide with the goal gaping at his mercy after Stephen Ireland had dispossessed Omonia skipper Ilias Charlambous as the defender dithered with the ball on the edge of the area and squared the ball to the Brazilian.

Mark Hughes’ side then had two efforts denied by Giorgallides’ left post in the space of three minutes – firstly Jo curled his shot past the keeper, then Ireland forced his way to the by-line only to see his attempt canon off the same piece of woodwork.

Elano was preparing to unleash a shot from six-yards out after taking a pass from Jo in his stride, but a last-ditch challenge from Hamad Ndikumana maintained the stalemate going into half-time.

Omonia took a shock lead inside the first five minutes of the second half after Duro was clumsily bundled over by the retreating Vincent Kompany, with the midfielder then hammering the resultant free-kick past the despairing dive of Joe Hart.

The Cypriot side grew with confidence following the goal with Duro at the forefront of their creative play, until Jo broke at the other end and wasted yet another golden opportunity – this time smashing his shot against the underside of the crossbar.

However, parity was finally restored on the hour-mark with Jo making amends for his earlier misses, taping-in after Wright-Phillips had capitalised on a defensive mistake from Aloneftis and squaring the ball to the Brazilian striker.

City grabbed the winner in the 74th minute with a touch of class from Jo who took a Garrido cross on his knee and drilled a powerful shot past Giorgallides into the far corner of the goal.

Just after Hughes had withdrawn Jo from the field of play, his side could only watch on as Duro attempted an audacious shot from 40-yards which had Hart comprehensively beaten as it flew over the keeper’s head and struck the crossbar.

City’s win was not safe until Hart had made a fine point-blank save from Ferreira Clayton as the substitute ran through on goal in injury time, but the stop gave Mark Hughes side the crucial victory which for so long had looked unlikely.

Star man: Jo, 8. The Brazilian made an inauspicious start to the game, missing copious first-half chances, but the £18 million summer signing made amends with two second half goals, the second of which showed his true class.

 

Robinho was right to leave Real Madrid for Manchester City according to his fellow countryman Roberto Carlos, who claims he left the club for the same reasons as the forward.

Carlos has revealed he left Real for Fenerbahce a year and a half ago because he was not offered the contract he wanted by the Spaniards.

And the left back believes Robinho experienced the same treatment at the Santiago Bernabeu and was right to move on.

The Brazilian defender believes City’s number 10 has what it takes to become the best player around within a year.

“The same as Robinho happened to me at Real Madrid: I wanted to sign for two more seasons and they just offered me one,” Carlos told reporters.

“He did well to leave, regardless of the name of the club he joined.

“Real Madrid earned €40 million (£32 million) and he signed a great contract and has the possibility to be the best player in the world next year.”