Former Inter striker Ronaldo discussed his transfer to AC Milan later in his career and his feelings regarding the two clubs in an interview in the print edition of the Italian sports magazine Sportweek.
“It seems convenient to say this now, but it is only the truth, I wanted to go back to Inter. Moreover, I did everything I could to get back to Inter. I waited as long as I could to give Inter time to say yes or no, when neither a yes nor a no comes, it means no.”
The Brazilian touched on how he was disappointed that the Nerazzurri had rejected him but didn’t regret signing for their rivals, AC Milan.
“From AC Milan it was yes and at that moment, more than feeling like a traitor, I felt a bit betrayed that I had been rejected by Inter.
“It was an unpopular choice, but in my life, I’ve never been afraid to make those. And today it makes no sense for me to ask myself if I would do it again.”
Finally, Ronaldo touched on his reasons for signing for the Rossoneri and his relationship with former president Silvio Berlusconi.
“If I did it, it’s because in that moment I felt it was the thing to do, neither right nor wrong, it was in my head and there was a reason.
“Berlusconi and especially Galliani loved me very much, my relationship with them is a memory that still makes me smile today. The relationship has been broken but the esteem has remained.”
Ronaldo spent five years of his career with the Nerazzurri from 1997 to 2002, leaving for Real Madrid at the start of the Galácticos era.
The Brazilian won the Ballon d’Or whilst with the Milanese club but suffered from serious knee injuries that heavily affected the end of his time in Milan. He returned to the Lombardy capital in 2007 to sign for the Rossoneri, but only made 20 league appearances for the club over one and a half seasons.
