Sport

City close to Ronaldinho accord
by Tom Adams, 05 July 2008

Ronaldinho: City-bound?

Reports in Spain claim that Manchester City are close to finding a contractual agreement with Ronaldinho as they look to secure what would be a sensational transfer.

City have been locked in talks with the Brazil star’s representatives for weeks now but Catalunya Radio reports that the player’s brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, will meet with club directors at the weekend in a bid to close the deal.

It is believed that City are ready to pay Barcelona in the region of €27 million (£21.4 million) and that an agreement on personal terms, and all the other contractual intricacies that a high-profile player entails, could also be forthcoming.

Even if an agreement is brokered though, Milan also remain in the hunt for Ronaldinho and De Assis recently claimed it is almost certain that his brother and client will end up playing for the Rossoneri next season.

Milan have readily acknowledged they will not be able to match the financial offer from the Premier League side but, with Emmanuel Adebayor out of reach, are expected to step up their efforts to coax long-term target Ronaldinho to the San Siro.

City recently signed the former World Player of the Year’s compatriot Jo, but Milan boast current Brazil internationals Kaka and Alexandre Pato in their ranks.

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Comments

Cú Chullain - 06 July 2008 13:04: So is Liverpool's but we still lag behind, football is more of a franchise these days. Those with the money and image will do well, City may have the money but their image isn't the best and that's why Ronaldinho has apparently snuffed them.; Report this to a moderator

andrew bucknall - 06 July 2008 10:28: Cú Chullain,you ask what his aims and goals are? he's won everything there is to win and i'm not saying we're anywhere close to what we want to be,but,if gary cook and mark hughes sell him a vision,then his ambition would be to put City back at the top table of football.maradona did it at unfasionable napoli,so,why not? check your history mate.our history is better than chelsea's.albeit not recent history.CTID; Report this to a moderator

Cú Chullain - 06 July 2008 08:55: I don't know what his motivations are behind such a move, no CL football and lets be realistic, a team that are many years away from challenging for the PL. Does he not have any goals or ambition or is it just down to money as I suspect? Would still be nice to see his flare in the Prem next season even if he's over the hill a bit.; Report this to a moderator

Sonny Cheema - 06 July 2008 00:09: This is going to be his last contract. He has played on the biggest stages football has to offer and with some of the world's greatest footballers. If you were him, would you just come to city because they are the only club to have voiced there pursuit of him. He can play football in any conditions and doesn't have to justify anything to us, as he's shown what he's about to the whole world .. Its a long drawn out process and with sponsorship and various other factors to consider. So it will take a long time. If he comes to city, I will welcome him with open arms and support him like any other to have worn the shirt. I won't judge him or think he's not gonna perform against lower teams .. Doesn't Spain have the equivalent of a Hull or have bad weather and cold nights .. get real .. Like I said it will be his last major contract and he wants to make sure its the right one. So if that means having to wait .. Then wait .. We have a deadline in place and if its not met, then so be it. CTID; Report this to a moderator

Hongkongphooey - 05 July 2008 21:55: I am not a Man City supporter but it would be good for the premier league if Ronaldinho did sign. Thaksin Shinawatra only got elected because of his money influence which is votes bought and paid for and people being impressed with his success! However, power did go to his head and he did start behaving like a dictator although Thailand is hardly 3rd world anymore and is a far nicer country than the UK in many ways. Have any of you ever been to some of the 3rd world areas of the UK?; Report this to a moderator

andrew bucknall - 05 July 2008 21:30: makes me laugh all these muppet rags who claim not to be intersted in City,but,must trail all the sites o read all about us.jog on back to london.Tim you fool!! you say cloggers,but,don't we already have players with skill playing here? good god man.let us blues worry about City and all those who claim to be able to see into the future or know how much we have to spend did you win the lottery tonight or what? CTID; Report this to a moderator

who the eff are man utd? - 05 July 2008 21:28: @tim nice but dim we played better football than most last season, but didnt have the cutting edge (still managed to beat the scum twice). this season bluesy will instill the eye of the tiger, and we will be a force to be reckoned with. i suspect you are some form of red scum and, on that basis, wish you ultimate failure in your pursuit of glory.; Report this to a moderator

Pete - 05 July 2008 21:28: TIM - Have you watched any football in the last few years? Hughes' Blackburn side played some pretty good stuff and scoring a lot of goals. They played clogger stuff when they first got promoted because they had to in order to stay up. As soon as Hughes had had time to build a more technically gifted squad they started playing proper football and most of the hatchet men were shown the door. And as I recall we were playing some good football the day we stuffed the European champions on their own turf.; Report this to a moderator

Whipper - 05 July 2008 20:59: We seem to have some bitter supporters from other clubs posting about our potential signing.Live with it were on the up and with Franks money and Bluesy in charge the good times are ahead.I`ve just read one post saying Bluesy`s teams are cloggers,you obviously never watched Blackburn last season.They played the same type of football as Chelsea and Everton last season,but because they are an unfashionable side they get slated for it.Mainly by sad glory hunters. Now Bluesy has funds to back his ambitions and with higher calibre players coming in i don`t we will have as many slating his style of football. Class manager and i would imagine Utd fans would even back that up.; Report this to a moderator

jay - 05 July 2008 20:19: look, if this clown joins a seconf rate team like city, then surely its obvious he is doin so for the money. and you city fans have to think, do you want players playing for you like that? your obviously a team on the up but i just you dont rush it, because you will gutted when your owner see's there has been no progress even tho he has spent millions and buggers off; Report this to a moderator

Citeh! - 05 July 2008 20:03: I would love to see how he holds up to the rough style of the premier league, Im betting he won't be able to hack it and will end up being an expensive flop. We'll see though, if he makes the move to Man City.; Report this to a moderator

TIM - 05 July 2008 19:54: IT WOULD BE A WASTE, SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU DONT PLAY DECENT FOOTBALL, AND NOW WITH HUGHES CLOGGER STYLE FOOTBALL, YOURE GOING TO GET WORSE.RONALDINHO PLAYS STYLISH FOOTBALL, YOU DONT.; Report this to a moderator

hi - 05 July 2008 19:15: i dont want ron to come because he is obvisly not interested in coming.; Report this to a moderator

TROY KEYES - 05 July 2008 19:07: Total nonsense. Assis is just making noises to get the people at Milan to pay over the odds.; Report this to a moderator

BLUEMOON - 05 July 2008 19:07: Cheers pjpar; Report this to a moderator

pjpar - 05 July 2008 19:02: BLUEMOON - they need the sale to go through as if there is a change of president in the elections there is then a freeze on assets whilst they assess values etc. which would then mean any possible transfer activity out of barca could be on hold until winter tx window; Report this to a moderator

Whipper - 05 July 2008 18:54: @ Alec Herd`s post I`m a City fan and i can`t take City seriously.It all comes with the territory.But if we do pull this off you are right and we will be able to attract a higher calibre of player to the club.It`s making me wonder how much Bluesy has to spend because if we sign him thats £40 million on just to players,we still need a defensive midfielder,a left back plus cover for our centre half's.So your talking another 15 to 20 million on top.I`m just hoping Frank is now putting his money where his mouth is. CTID; Report this to a moderator

Alec Herd - 05 July 2008 18:31: If this happens everyone will sit up and take Manchester City very seriously!; Report this to a moderator

Peter Doherty - 05 July 2008 18:26: Third world dictator? He was democatically elected.; Report this to a moderator

BLUEMOON - 05 July 2008 18:19: Why do Barca need the sale to go through before tuesday?; Report this to a moderator

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