ThereâÂÂs nothing like a knockdown sales bargain to put a smile on a shopperâÂÂs face.
So itâÂÂs no wonder AC Milan were whooping with delight as they ran up the street with a toothy Brazilian dressed in Snoop DoggâÂÂs castoffs, tucked under one arm.
ItâÂÂs hard to believe but only last year the Rossoneri were informed by Barcelona that 60million euros was a pitiful amount for Ronaldinho.
A year later and thereâÂÂs the same item hanging in the corner with a 21million price-tag stuck on his alice-band. Surely heâÂÂs not that shop-soiled?
Snoop Dinho arrives in Milan flanked by Galliani and Laporta
Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani couldnâÂÂt believe his eyes and neither could the Italian press who were agog, splashing headlines such as: âÂÂThe miracle of Milanâ â¦ âÂÂDream come trueâ and the ever-original âÂÂDinho-mania.âÂÂ
Those poor souls have been dreaming of this moment for the last five years and who cares if Milan need him or not? It was good enough to feel a bit of a buzz around Milanello for a change.
It was just the lift the first day of pre-season needed. Normally a few hundred fans would probably have gathered to welcome the stars with their millionaire tans back to work.
Instead around 5,000 packed in and around the road leading up to the training complex to greet, well, maybe not the new saviour, but at least a bona fide superstar.
And they were certainly a frenzied bunch, despite obviously being either work-shy or students to be out in the countryside on a Wednesday afternoon.
A cacophony of chants, horns and a smoke-screen of flares greeted the star manâÂÂs arrival which must have made having to take that reported pay-cut all worth it.
Ronaldinho may be losing out financially, having forgone the delights of Manchester but Milan are suddenly on a nice little earner.
Season-ticket sales jumped 6,000 when the announcement was made, 260 shirts were snapped up at the club store in 45 minutes, although numberless as Clarence Seedorf refuses to give up the 10, and no doubt plenty of new marketing opportunities will open up when the former World Player of the Year eventually gets round to playing.
Ronaldinho salutes whooping Milanese welcome
That should not be too long as he certainly didnâÂÂt look like an overweight has-been but then it was difficult to tell what was luring under that over-sized tee-shirt.
WeâÂÂll get a better idea this evening when he dons the Milan shirt for the first time at his official presentation at the San Siro in the front of an expected 50,000.
After that, some magic and a few miracles will be expected from the dream trio of Kaka, Pato and Dinho â could be fun times again in Serie A.
