Ronaldinho has met his match with AC Milan

I would like to take this time to personally congratulate both Brazilian international Ronaldinho and Italian Serie A side AC Milan. I feel this is "a really special moment" that could be the start of something big. It is only natural that "every player dreams of playing in a team as important as Milan, for this club's greatness and the importance of their players." This truly is "already a victory" for both club and player.

How curious it is the two biggest footballing names I've seen associated with weight problems have either signed or are linked with Milanese clubs (according to The H List, Frank Lampard is very fat indeed). Ronaldinho was at his chubby best for the Rossoneri media Wednesday, whipping out that Cheshire grin on cue and bowing politely to the 30,000 some-odd supporters (rubber-neckers maybe?) who turned up to support (or gawk at) the £16.7 million signing.

This really is a perfect match. Milan seem content to sign players creeping up on their thirties, while Ronaldinho seems content to continue his lazy ways in the slow-paced Serie A. Milan have some challenges ahead of them this season, like finishing in the top four, winning the UEFA Cup (an easy task for Bayern Munich last season, right?) and continuing the long process of replacing the geriatrics who make up a good chunk of their roster. Ronaldinho will help to be sure (he scored 89 goals in 190 appearances for Barcelona), but if things don't go swimmingly, don't wait for the former Big Barcelona Sulk to pitch in for the cause.

Frankly, I couldn't picture him trotting out for a Manchester derby for the blue half of the city. He'd be weeping by halftime after 11 Red Devils ran circles around him for 45 minutes. Manchester City were reported to have offered roughly £10 million more than Milan, but it likely would have been money wasted. Fancy footwork only flies in the Premier League when you've got the pace to back it up. Manchester's Mark Hughes may have saved himself some valuable cash when all is said and done.

Speaking of cash, according to a report on ESPN Soccernet, Milan fans "snapped up 5,230 season tickets out of a total of 18,518 sold during the whole of the close-season subscription period." Mr. Berlusconi is smiling, that's for sure.

Carson not really worth that much after all

After many reports earlier in the year had former Liverpool keeper Scott Carson valued near £10 million, he signed with West Bromwich Albion for a paltry £3.25 million, according to The Guardian. The England international, who played on loan at Aston Villa last season, had been linked with a move to Stoke City for around £3.5 million, but the Baggies move could be increased by another £500,000 based on "performance-related criteria," according to the Guardian.

Carson is not the first young English keeper of promise to play for West Brom after time at Liverpool -- Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland played on at the Hawthorns during the 2005-2006 season.