Leonardo plans to bring Brazil or AC Milan in Kolkata

Kolkata, Nov 11 (UNI) With midfielder Leonardo himself taking the initiative, the City of Joy might play host to a full-fledged Brazil team or the AC Milan team in near future.

Here for the second time in two years, Leonardo says he has a special relation with the city and he is amazed at how ''everything still works'' in this cauldron of congestion and how there's an ''underlying sense of order'' in the visible chaos.

''I felt an emotional connection with Kolkata when I came here accompanying the Milan Under-17 squad last year. I'm glad to be back and soaking the warmth and positive energy of this historic city,'' the World Cupper said.

Leonardo, also secretary general of the AC Milan Foundation, is in the city for an philanthropic cause -- to inaugurate a multi-functional sports centre at Udayan, the shelter for children of leprosy victims in Telenipara in Barrackpore.

AC Milan had raised 2.5 million euros for 30 projects around the world and this is its first venture in India.

Udayan is just the beginning of an everlasting relationship between Leonardo and Kolkata.

'' We will actively consider bringing the Milan Series A side here,'' he revealed.

However, the Brazilian, who had made Milan his home, feels it's ''logistically easier'' to bring the Brazilian national squad to the city.

''I'll be chipping away at both, let's see what happens,'' he said.

Leonardo is the third in the big line of stars to be attached with Udayan after Dominique Lapierre breathed life into it in the 1980s and later former Austrlian cricket captain Steve Waugh adopted it.

Starting with only 16 children, Udayan, now houses over 300 children in its roster.

Leonardo, who plays every Thursday in the foundation's fund-raiser tournament with the likes of Franco Baresi and Roberto Donadoni also spoke about his celebrated teammate Ronaldinho and the latter's poor form in the World Cup.

''I feel Ronaldinho has a lot of game left in him. This world cup he was heavily marked and later his frustration got the better of his game. He is far from over,'' he asserted.

However, he felt it was difficult for Ronaldo to make a comeback to the national squad after an injury.

''It will be tough. But I like the way Brazil's new coach Dunga is going about handling the things. He has vision and has a lot of promise,'' Leonardo signed off.

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