Milan - The trademark smile and Samba steps of Ronaldinho finally cheered up the hearts of AC Milan fans after weeks of mumbling about the performances of the Brazilian star. Ronaldinho was the Devils' hero at the weekend as they beat champions Inter Milan 1-0 thanks to a classy header off a cross from his compatriot Kaka.
"I'm very happy, I hoped to score," he said. "It was for the fans who make me feel at home. Each day I feel more at home here at Milan. It's a moment of great joy. I know that (Monday) is the birthday of president (Silvio) Berlusconi. This goal is for him too."
It was a goal that healed Milan from a crisis that began with two straight defeats at the start of the Serie A season. The team's poor showings triggered a period of brooding and criticism aimed also at the lacklustre and seldom fielded Brazilian.
But Italian media on Monday praised his convincing performance in the first game he played from the start.
"Never a useless touch, never useless moves," La Gazzetta dello Sport wrote. "Dinho perfectly executed the orders of (coach Carlo) Ancelotti: playing for the team."
Ronaldinho's first brief appearances with Milan had been far from convincing with many expressing concern over the injuries that plagued his last season at Barcelona.
Now, with Milan lying three points from the top after five Serie A games, the 21 million euros (30 million dollars) paid for his transfer suddenly seems a sounder investment.
For most Milan fans, the 28-year-old Golden Ball winner appears set to man an all-Brazilian stellar attack with compatriots Kaka, also a Golden Ball winner, and the young Alexandre Pato, 19.
"It's good to see him so happy," Kaka said. "We are friends, we live different lives, but this doesn't prevent us from playing together. I'm glad he came. He brought along quality."
Berlusconi, one of Dinho's greatest fans, said that "his name had a dark period linked to the situation that had arisen in Barcelona.
"Today he is himself again. He was crucial and does some incredible things. I'd like to see him more involved in the attacking schemes and not only on the left flank."
