Premier League - Ronaldinho to decide in 72 hours

Eurosport - Mon, 14 Jul 21:50:00 2008

Barcelona and Ronaldinho have given themselves "two or three days" to decide on the player's future after a meeting at the Camp Nou.

FOOTBALL 2008-2009 Ronaldinho - 0

Milan and Manchester City the two clubs competing for the Brazil forward's services, with the English club reported to have submitted a City club-record £25.5 million bid for the former PSG and Gremio man.

"The two parties have agreed to give themselves two or three days to close the transfer of the player to one of the clubs interested in landing the Brazilian," Barca said on their website, referring to themselves and Ronaldinho.

"If no agreement is reached over this period, the player will join up with the rest of the squad for training."

The player was accompanied by his brother and agent Roberto de Assis as they returned from Porto Alegre in Brazil for the meeting with Barcelona officials, which Italian sports paper Gazzetta had earlier claimed was to allow them to finalise a deal with Milan.

Barcelona, meanwhile, confirmed they received the bid from City and said that the Blues are leading the race to capture the twice World Player of the Year.

The Spanish club's president Joan Laporta told Catalunya Radio: "[Ronaldinho and his agent] have had two interesting proposals and they are leaning more towards the one from Manchester City.

"We hope to be able to resolve the situation this week."

Laporta added that the club had taken into account "the interests of the player as well as those of Barcelona" when deciding on whether he should go or not.

The bid was a last-ditch attempt by City to lure the playmaker to the Premier League and hijack Milan's plan to take him to Serie A.

City owner Thaksin Shinawatra is determined to land his top summer target at any cost and is reportedly willing to offer a weekly wage of £150,000 to meet that ends - three times what the Rossoneri are reported to have tabled.

The Italian heavyweights were thought to be favourites to capture him after De Assis said a switch to the San Siro was "90 per cent likely", a claim that was backed up by Milan officials.

But following reports of a dispute over personal terms with the Italian side, City have moved quickly to propose a concrete and lucrative offer.

Ronaldinho himself was preparing for the Beijing Olympics with the Brazil national team - he qualifies as one of the their over-age players - although Barca wanted him back at pre-season training at the Camp Nou, having refused him permission to travel to China.

Should a deal be completed with City, it would smash the club record £18 million spent on fellow Brazil international Jo earlier in the close season.

Ronaldinho has scored 70 goals in 145 appearances for Barca.

Eurosport / Reuters

Comment 23 - 42 of 82

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  1. premiership is a bit of a step down from la liga. go to milan.

    From fergie, on Mon 14 Jul 7:28PM

  2. My only comment goes to Ronaldinho Agent; even if Real Madrid can't the player(Ronaldinho) because he has been kept in the dark by Barcelona but his Agent should reveal the player to Real Madrid coach and present cos i can't imagine why they are no having interest a player who do all the magic and distruction needed to all their rival. Ok, let me be his agent for a second: Real Madrid coach, management and fans which i'm one, we need Ronaldinho more than we need CR though both put together will prove too strong for the rest of the world..

    From kingsley, on Mon 14 Jul 7:21PM

  3. eakinpelu, you are right man city are comypcats of chelsea atleast chelsea qualify for champions league and won something in the last 5 years. if ronnie really does want to play in epl he should go to chelsea cuz roman admires ronnie and he said "i love his style of play" altho i think russian billionire doesnt care wat style of play they play he just wants to win.. he wants "attacking football"

    From diman, on Mon 14 Jul 7:12PM

  4. Ronny better go to Italy for I doubt that he can make it in England - and certainly not with City (if they can afford himn at all!) Chelsea seems to become more Latino now, so that's the only club I can see Ronny make something.

    From gordon.merk, on Mon 14 Jul 7:02PM

  5. RONALDINHO DONT GO TO MAN.CITY IF YOU WANT TO BE EVEN SLIGHTLY SUCESSFUL

    From herbzone, on Mon 14 Jul 7:00PM

  6. god !!! freaking man city is a @#$% club they need to piss off and let ronnie go to ac milan cuz he wont find his form in england !!!

    From diman, on Mon 14 Jul 6:53PM

  7. Oh dear big mistake don't go there! Man City are copycats of Chelsea and won't certainly offer you Champions League football or UEFA Cup you crave Ronaldihno! Go to Chelsea.

    From Eve, on Mon 14 Jul 6:45PM

  8. If CR7 leaves Man Utd cash will be no object to sign Ronaldinho, because Man Utd will get alot of money for CR7. So if CR7 leaves Ronaldinho comes into Manchester United, and if not Ronaldinho will join Milan that is @#$%.

    From koso.nejc, on Mon 14 Jul 6:00PM

  9. Ronaldinho should 2 man city and show premiership that he is a million times better than that so called c.ronaldo.wish him best of luck

    From ellen4real2003, on Mon 14 Jul 5:56PM

  10. why wud ronny go to city if he cud play with all his brazil buddies over in milan, not to mention a better team

    From emailcathal2006, on Mon 14 Jul 5:55PM

  11. The problem with barcelona is they are in a financial quagmire after their massive spending and underperformance. They are sacrificing their best player to pay bills. It is a joke with these Spanish teams, they have no appreciation for their star foreign players and blame them as soon as things go wrong, yet the locals get a free pass. Look at Raul, Xavi, and Puyol. The somehow survive while the foreigners take the blame.

    From kevincarson81, on Mon 14 Jul 5:45PM

  12. if he arrives in england it could really revive his career. if he doesnt play well, he wont get played, it's as simple as that. im sure he'll want to shine when playing against the top teams, get his name back on the map

    From Tom, on Mon 14 Jul 5:39PM

  13. Where are all those ManUtd fans who talk about contract fulfillment? Ronaldinho still has a contact at Barca but it is the club who wants him to leave. Cristiano has a contract at Utd but it is he who wants to leave. This is a mirror image case and once again exemplifies why footballers must look out for themselves. Football clubs are the most selfish cruel organizations for the manner in which they simply disregard players. Like thorough-bred owners who turn their under-performers into steaks in Italian restaurants. Not only is Manchester City a joke of a team but the standard of football in the Premier league is restricted to the quality of 4 teams mostly reliant on imported players. This thought that somehow one must work harder in the Premier League than anywhere else is laughable. Fernando Torres and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate and can hardly perform on the big stages. Ronaldinho is a superb class player who is being untimely written off. Look at Ryan Giggs, he is not close to the talent Ronaldinho is and look how long he has given the highest quality service to United. Ronaldinho should avoid Milan and Manchester City. Go to Chelsea or stay at Barca and play out your contract, they can't keep a star down. Laporta is a complete joke.

    From kevincarson81, on Mon 14 Jul 5:34PM

  14. what a bad move this will be, he would only go to city for the money, its not as if they play the most fluid football, is it

    From dan, on Mon 14 Jul 5:24PM

  15. what a bad move this will be, he would only go to city for the money, its not as if they play the most fluid football, is it

    From dan, on Mon 14 Jul 5:23PM

  16. i dont care were he plays what club he play for, i just want to see him action again. Ronaldinho is a meastro, he can fit where he is.

    From charles, on Mon 14 Jul 5:10PM

  17. If he goes to Man City that'll be the signal for his slow path to retirement.No offence to Man Coty fans but the only reason he'd go there is so he could get a big fat pat check at the end of every week and he'd probably spend half the season on a sebatical in Rio!

    From MichealS, on Mon 14 Jul 4:55PM

  18. I think credit to man city for trying to bring him to the premiership, as it doesnt look like other big clubs are not interested in him, im sure if chelski really wanted him, money would be no object. However traditional clubs like man utd, wouldnt break the bank with wages as it will unrest the rest of the squad, however if C.Ronaldo leaves, then may be Sir Alex could turn this ex 2 times world player into a force again? Lets face it this guy on form will leave C.Ronaldo for dust! Surely a big premeirship club must take a chance on him!!!

    From First L, on Mon 14 Jul 4:51PM

  19. Ronny to Man City?? does he even know if the club exist?? but good luck to him anyways.. he'll be shock to see what the premier league defenders do to him as a welcoming gesture ;P

    From dila, on Mon 14 Jul 4:34PM

  20. It will certainly not be Man City. I do not think he style of play suits the English game.Man City are wasting their time.

    From Lyndon, on Mon 14 Jul 4:29PM
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