Ronaldinho tips Pato and Coutinho to shine

Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho has tipped two countrymen to star in Serie A this season: AC Milan team-mate Pato and teenage midfielder and new Inter Milan signing Coutinho.

The 30-year-old, once the most exciting player in the world and twice world player of the year, enjoyed something of a mini revival last season following two disappointing campaigns.

While his burst of pace of old is long gone, Ronaldinho still showed flashes of the brilliance that turned him into a superstar during his Barcelona days.

And while talk surrounding Ronaldinho these days focuses more often on his expanding waistline or nocturnal activities, the former Paris St Germain star said it is his compatriots who people should keep their eyes on this season.

“Pato has great ability and he’s very motivated, it will be his season, he’ll score many goals,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“But watch out for another young talent, he’s just arrived but he’s destined to make his mark: Coutinho. The future is his.”

Pato was a sensation in his first year and a half at Milan, holding down a regular first team spot an impressing with his pace and finishing.

But after a good start to last term, injuries affected the second half of his season and he missed out on the Brazil World Cup squad.

Attacking midfielder Coutinho, 18, has just been signed by Inter and is believed to be one of the main reasons the Italian champions are prepared to let Mario Balotelli leave.

Looking ahead to the new title race, Ronaldinho predicted there would be no surprises.

“Inter have lost (Jose) Mourinho, one of the best coaches in the world, but I think the fight will be the usual one,” he added.

“That means between the champions (Inter), us, Juventus and AS Roma.”

For Ronaldinho, who also missed out on World Cup selection, this season he wants to return to winning ways, following four trophy-less years.

“I was expecting to be picked for South Africa and maybe I deserved it, but now I’m looking forward.

“I still have a lot of desire to show Milan what I’m worth, and I haven’t won anything since 2006.”

As for questions about his growing stomach, and photos of him on a beach in Rio showing that he had developped something of a paunch, Ronaldinho remained defiant.

“I haven’t seen this photo,” he said. “I’m used to giving my replies to those who don’t have faith in me on the pitch.”

And that includes former Brazil great Falcao, who said recently that Milan have not seen the best of Ronaldinho.

“All I know is that in my career I’ve won a few things, he speaks because he is Falcao,” retorted Ronaldinho, possibly in referrence to the fact that unlike himself, Falcao never won the World Cup.