Oliveira leaves Milan for Zaragoza

MADRID, Spain (Reuters) -- Real Zaragoza striker Ricardo Oliveira is confident he can rediscover his scoring form on his return to Spain after a disappointing season with Serie A side AC Milan.

"I'll be doing my utmost to score goals and help the team have a great season," the 27-year-old Brazilian international told a news conference after completing a season-long loan move to the Primera Liga side.

"I hope next season will be as good as or even better than the campaign I had when I scored 22 goals for Betis," he said.

"I know it is a bold promise but I've got a lot of confidence in this team."

The former Valencia and Betis striker joined Milan for 17 million euros ($23.5 million) at the start of last season as a replacement for Andriy Shevchenko, but he failed to live up to expectation, scoring just three goals in 26 Serie A appearances for the club.

"It was a difficult year in Italy what with my sister getting kidnapped (in Brazil), but it is different now because I'm in a country where I feel happy and relaxed," he said.

Oliveira will team up with Argentina striker Diego Milito at Zaragoza who have qualified for next season's UEFA Cup.

The Primera Liga side have an option to sign Oliveira on a four-year deal at the end of the season.

European champions AC Milan, meanwhile, have reassured anxious supporters that reinforcements are on the way despite the squad returning to training on Monday with no new additions following the close-season break.

Players gathered at the training ground exactly two months after their seventh European Cup triumph over Liverpool in Athens and two weeks after most sides began pre-season work.

No one has yet signed despite the club saying they would buy one of Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Didier Drogba, Andriy Shevchenko and Brazil youngster Alexandre Pato.

"With the current squad we have we could say that we will do well next season. However we are in talks about two attackers, two champions, and we are confident at least one can play with us," Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi told a news conference.

Internacional's Pato, who excelled for Brazil at the Under-20 World Cup which has just finished in Canada, looks set to join in January as Barca President Joan Laporta will not sell Eto'o or Ronaldinho despite beating Milan to Arsenal's Thierry Henry.

"If the Barcelona president sold Ronaldinho he would have to emigrate," Berlusconi added.

Drogba seems ready to stay at Chelsea along with Shevchenko, despite numerous attempts by Milan to bring the Ukrainian back.

Berlusconi has said Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich wants too much for Shevchenko, who struggled in his first year in England following a £30 million ($61.82 million) move.

Media reports have also said Shevchenko wants to stay in London for another season to prove his worth.

Milan's best bit of business during the close-season was to repel Real Madrid's advances for playmaker Kaka. "Kaka is an indispensible player, a great image for Milan. I see no reason why things could change," Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti added. E-mail to a friend

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