Manchester City are understood to have joined the battle to sign Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho.

City are believed to have entertained Roberto Assis - brother and agent of the player - at Eastlands on Saturday as they lost to Chelsea.

Assis is currently compiling a lost of options for his brother, should as expected, he depart Barcelona this summer.

Italian giants AC Milan, at this stage, look firm favourites to land him after their owner Silvio Berlusconi confirmed his interest in signing the former PSG player over the weekend.

AC Milan can also boast a rich Brazilian contingent at their club as they already have Dida, Cafu, Digao, Serginho, Emerson, Kaka, Alexandre Pato and Ronaldo in their ranks.

Inter Milan are also interested in the 28-year-old, whilst Chelsea have a long-standing interest in Ronaldinho and are likely to be keeping close tabs on the situation.

City's interest would seemingly be with the permission of their Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra - who would already know that the player, who has two-years left on his deal at the Camp Nou, could cost in excess of £20milllion and would command wages of more than £100,000-a-week.

But City are seemingly undeterred by the figures - knowing the commercial spin-offs of signing one of the biggest names in world football would reap.

Sven Goran Eriksson would obviously need to play a huge role in trying to lure Ronaldinho to Manchester - a feat Sir Alex Ferguson failed to do in 2003 when the player shunned Man United for Barcelona.

And Eriksson seems open to the idea of looking to entice Ronaldinho to the club.

"I hope it's true," quipped the Swede when asked about City's interest in Barca ace.

"I would not protest against it. But I don't know if Ronaldinho wants to play in the InterToto Cup next season."

Ronaldinho, who has struggled for form and fitness this season, is currently sidelined with a thigh injury which could rule him out for the remainder of the season.

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