Ronaldinho thrilled with fast start

Nov 29, 2008 - 1:05 AM By PA SportsTicker

AC Milan forward Ronaldinho is happy with his progress since making the switch to the Rossoneri from Barcelona in the summer.

The 28-year-old completed his move to Serie A following a torrid final campaign in Spain where he was held largely culpable for the Catalan club's two-season trophy drought since helping it win a league and Champions League double in 2006.

Injury woes and a lack of form saw the 2005 Ballon d'Or winner lose his starting spot at Barca and confined him to only 11 appearances last season, while he was constantly being accused of being lazy and overweight in the Spanish press.

Despite all this Ronaldinho insists he enjoyed his time in Spain and is now happy to have a new challenge.

"I am very happy to be able to play here in Italy," he told the www.acmilan.it. "In the past I had the chance to play in Spain in a team full of great champions, but now at Milan I'm having a lot of fun because I'm at a club with a lot of good players.

"For me, it's a joy to be able to help my teammates by giving my contribution. I am going through a good time."

Ronaldinho paused before continuing.

"Coming here I had hoped things would go well, I am a positive person. But life is like this. It's impossible to always be doing well," he said. "I am happy to have started this season in the best possible way after a bad year in Barcelona. It was the best thing I could hope for. I see things going better every day.

"Here at Milan, I feel an important player, just like all my team-mates."