Milan: AC Milan will allow new signing Ronaldinho to play for Brazil at the Beijing Olympics.
"We'll respect the agreement that was made before his transfer to Milan," Milan vice president Adriano Galliani said on Wednesday, a day after sealing a deal to bring the creative playmaker to Italy from FC Barcelona.
Galliani added that Milan would not have let Ronaldinho compete at next month's games if the choice was made now.
But Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti said the Olympics offered the former two-time FIFA world player of the year "a chance to get back in shape."
"When he returns he'll be ready and he'll only require the time to adapt to our system," Ancelotti said.
Ronaldinho was criticised recently for being overweight at Barcelona.
All 16 football teams at the Olympics can use professional players, but only three can be 23 or older. Ronaldinho is 28.
Milan reportedly blocked Filippo Inzaghi from playing at the Beijing Games, although the squad's 18-year-old Brazilian forward, Alexandre Pato, is allowed to go.
"Milan let me go without any problem," Pato said.
"Right now, I'm only thinking about my national team and winning the gold medal in Beijing, then I'll come back here and do my best for Milan. Also, because thanks to Milan, I'll try to secure a spot on the senior national team."
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