MILAN, Italy (AP) - Qualifying for the Champions League against Red Star Belgrade on Tuesday could bring AC Milan another prize: Ronaldo.
The 10 million euros ($14.4 million Cdn) that Milan would earn from qualifying and commercial bonuses will almost certainly be used to acquire a new player, and Italian media are widely speculating that Ronaldo is the club's top choice.
Ronaldo spent five years in Milan with rival Inter before joining Real Madrid in 2002. He has two years left on his contract but Madrid coach Fabio Capello reportedly prefers recent signing Ruud van Nistelrooy in attack.
Before departing for Belgrade on Monday, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti called the game a "season crossroads."
Milan won the first leg 1-0 on Filippo Inzaghi's goal.
The only other time Milan played at Belgrade's Maracana stadium it won on penalty kicks in the 1988-89 Champions League in a game that was repeated due to fog.
Milan's 40-year-old defender Alessandro Costacurta played in that game and is also expected to start Tuesday with Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta unavailable.
The 10 million euros ($14.4 million Cdn) that Milan would earn from qualifying and commercial bonuses will almost certainly be used to acquire a new player, and Italian media are widely speculating that Ronaldo is the club's top choice.
Ronaldo spent five years in Milan with rival Inter before joining Real Madrid in 2002. He has two years left on his contract but Madrid coach Fabio Capello reportedly prefers recent signing Ruud van Nistelrooy in attack.
Before departing for Belgrade on Monday, Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti called the game a "season crossroads."
Milan won the first leg 1-0 on Filippo Inzaghi's goal.
The only other time Milan played at Belgrade's Maracana stadium it won on penalty kicks in the 1988-89 Champions League in a game that was repeated due to fog.
Milan's 40-year-old defender Alessandro Costacurta played in that game and is also expected to start Tuesday with Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta unavailable.
