AC Milan acquires soccer great Ronaldo

Ronaldo's farewell to Real Madrid didn't include any fond words for coach Fabio Capello. The World Cup's all-time leading scorer left Madrid for AC Milan on Tuesday, returning to Italy's Serie A for a reported $9.73 million transfer fee. The 30-year-old Brazil striker will join Milan until 2008 _ the same length as the remainder of his contract at Madrid.

"My heart's breaking but life goes on," Ronaldo told reporters in Madrid. "I'm a great Madrid fan. I'm not so sure about the coach."

"I know that Ronaldo is Milan's," Capello said. "I wish him good luck, that he does what he used to be able to do, that is be a great player."

Ronaldo hasn't been picked to play by Capello since a Jan. 7 defeat at Deportivo La Coruna.

"I want to thank all the fans who supported me, all my teammates who were with me, all the coaches I've had _ except one," Ronaldo said. "I wasn't wanted, and as I'm a professional and I love soccer, I had to find another solution."

Ronaldo's departure marks the end of Madrid's project of signing the world's best players _ who earned the nickname "Galacticos."

Luis Figo left for Inter Milan in 2005, Zinedine Zidane has retired and David Beckham will be leaving for the Los Angeles Galaxy after the season. While the policy helped Madrid financially, it proved a flop on the field as the powerhouse team failed to win a major trophy since 2003 _ its worst drought since the early 1950s.

The three-time FIFA player of the year is returning to the city where he spent five years with AC Milan's rival, Inter Milan.

Ronaldo had agreed to terms with Milan last week and passed a medical test on Friday. Milan striker Ricardo Oliveira reportedly will move to Madrid on loan as part of the deal.

Ronaldo, who didn't visit Madrid's training ground Tuesday to bid farewell to his teammates, won't be able to play for Milan in this season's Champions League because he already has appeared for Madrid in the competition.

Ronaldo didn't play his first match this season until October, following an operation on his left knee. Since then, he has scored one league goal in seven appearances, mostly as a substitute, and missed another month with a left knee injury.

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Associated Press writer Stephen Mackey in Madrid contributed to this story.