Have you ever wondered how much did AC Milan pay to get probably the greatest active Brazilian footballer in the sport?

AC Milan is clearly gunning to win the 2008-09 Italian Serie A after signing Ronaldinho from Barcelona and prying him away from Manchester City and the entire English football world.

But just how much did AC Milan pay Barcelona to get the player who was once Barcelona’s best? A whopping US$33 million. Not too shabby huh? And guess what, the Italian football giants were willing to pay much more than that if Barcelona did not made them wait THIS long.

You see, Ronaldinho has always been the footballer AC Milan big boss Silvio Berlusconi wanted most. Well, that is according to AC Milan scout Ernesto Bronzetti. If Barcelona decided to sell the Brazilian star two years ago, the Spanish football giants would have received more than double of what Milan paid.

According to Bronzetti, AC Millan offered Barcelona US$95 million for Ronaldinho two years ago but because the Brazilian footballer then was not slowed down by a number of injuries yet, Barcelona refused.

‘’Two years ago he offered Barca 60million (US$95 million) for Ronaldinho and they refused it,'’ Ernesto Bronzetti said.

‘’It was my most difficult deal. He is the fifth player to have won the European footballer of the year that I have helped move to Italy after Hristo Stoichkov, Rivaldo, Luis Figo and Ronaldo.'’

‘’Barcelona had decided to sell Ronaldinho to Manchester City for US$50 million euros rather than the US$31 million the Rossoneri were offering, giving (Samuel) Eto’o to Milan instead.'’

‘’But in the end everything went along the right route.'’

Bronzetti claimed that Ronaldinho chose AC Milan and the ‘’more subtle'’ salary offer because ‘’for him what mattered was Milan’s history, the badge and everything that involves.'’

Of course, he will have a much better chance winning titles with the 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year Kaka than by his lonesome in Manchester City right?

Can AC Milan win the 2008-09 Italian Serie A title? Bodog sportsbook has the odds.

AC Milan 3.75

Inter Milan 1.91

AS Roma 4.50

Juventus 6.00

Want more odds? Visit Bodog sportsbook for more soccer betting odds and the best betting lines on some of today’s biggest sporting events.

AC Milan Ronaldinho