Brazil star Ronaldinho arrived in Milan Wednesday for medical tests expected to seal his transfer from Barcelona.
''I'm very happy and I hope I can make the Milan fans happy,'' said the striker, who has been a Milan target for months.
On Tuesday night Milan Vice President Adriano Galliani persuaded Barcelona President Joan Laporta to part with the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year and former European Player of the Year for 21 million euros.
Acknowledging that the talks had been ''long,'' Galliani said Ronaldinho was determined to regain his status as one of the world's top players.
''He's lean and fit, that 'famous' belly has gone, and he's training really hard. He really wants to put his reputation on the line again,'' Galliani said.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said that with Ronaldinho on board, the club were aiming to ''do great things''.
Milan was the right club for Ronaldinho to ''relaunch'' his career, Ancelotti told Milan Channel.
Asked what he expected of the 28-year-old, who suffered form and fitness problems last year, Ancelotti said:
''A few years ago he was considered the best player in the world. Here at Milan he will find the right environment to relaunch himself''.
Ronaldinho was initially expected to be presented to the press on Wednesday afternoon.
But Milan postponed the presentation until after the medical tests and contract signing. Club sources said the player would now be unveiled on Thursday or Friday.
Ronaldinho joins Arsenal's Mathieu Flamini as Milan's only two major arrivals as it heads for a UEFA Cup campaign after failing to qualify for the Champions League.
Italy's biggest-selling sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport hailed Ronaldinho's arrival as a Miracle In Milan, the title of a classic Italian fantasy film.
