[Fillipo Simone]

Ronaldinho Prefers Milan Over Chelsea

Barcelona superstar Ronaldinho would rather move to European Champions AC Milan than Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.

The double-winning FIFA World Player of the Year is rumoured to be ready to leave the Spanish-giants due to differences with Coach Frank Rijkaard and problems over his contract. 

La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that only two teams in Europe have a realistic chance of buying the Brazilian, Milan and Chelsea. Ronaldinho is said to favour a transfer to Italy because of the lifestyle and due to the large contingent of Brazilians already at the club. 

The Rossoneri currently have seven first-team Brazilian players on their books; Dida, Cafu, Emerson, Serginho, Digao, Kaka and Ronaldo. Eighteen-year-old wonderkid Alexandre Pato has also signed for the European Champions and will be eligible to play from January onwards. 

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi has reportedly put £70m aside in an action fund in order to finance the deal. This includes Ronaldino’s £7million-a-year wages. 

Ronaldinho has been missing from Barcelona’s last two league games against Sevilla and Zaragoza, further fuelling speculation that he is about to leave. 

Yesterday an official club statement read: “That the absence of the player is strictly related to a calf problem in his right leg. Ronaldinho is considered a basic piece of the current sporting project, and as such, there are no plans other than for his continuity in the first team.” 

Despite this declaration it is unlikely that the rumours of the 27-year-old moving to Milan are going to go away.

Usually I would post it in the "Transfers" section, but this could be big,... (IMG:http://cyrus.medialayer.net/~m1ke/milanfan.com/forums/style_emoticons/default/cool.gif)