Ronaldinho staying with AC Milan despite being overlooked for San Siro derby
AC Milan striker Ronaldinho has said he will not leave the club despite playing no part in the team's win against Inter Milan on Sunday 14 November.
The Brazilian starred for Barcelona between 2003 and 2007, winning the FIFA World Player of the Year award in 2004 before claiming the same prize and France Football's Ballon d'Or in 2005.
After a disappointing 2007–08 season with the Catalans, during which the striker made only 17 league appearances, Ronaldinho transferred to Milan, where he impressed during his first two seasons.
This season, the 30-year-old has made only seven league appearances for Massimiliano Allegri's team after the arrivals of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Robinho increased the competition among the club's strikers.
Ronaldinho, who remained on the bench for the entirety of Sunday's Milan derby, said he was disappointed not to play in the derby.
"You cannot be happy when you don't play an important game like the derby," the striker, still goalless this season, told Italian daily La Gazzetta dello Sport. "But I look at the table and I am happy. We have everything to win the Scudetto."
12 games into the season, Milan top the Serie A table with 26 points, one ahead of SS Lazio in second place. Allegri's team have a six-point lead over Rafael Benitez's Inter.
Staying put with 2014 World Cup in mind
Despite speculation that has linked the Brazilian with a move to another club in search of regular playing time, Ronaldinho said he intended to remain with Milan to fight for a place in the 2014 World Cup, which will take place in his home country.
The skillful striker was left out of former manager Dunga's 23-man squad that travelled to South Africa in May.
"My future? I have no intention to leave Milan. This club will give me the push to play in World Cup 2014 for Brazil. Take my name off the transfer market. I am very happy at Milan."
Milan play their next league fixture against Fiorentina on Sunday 21 November.
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