Milan’s hopes of signing Ronaldinho are about to end once and for all with reports suggesting he is on the verge of extending his Barca contract until 2014.The Brazilian’s brother and agent Roberto de Assis is scheduled to meet Blaugrana sporting director Txiki Beguiristain next week to finalise all details regarding a renewal.
Milan expressed their interest in the former Paris Saint-Germain ace after the World Cup and have been planning to bring him to Italy for some time, despite the South American insisting that he would not leave Spain.
Ronaldinho, who has just returned to Catalonia after the pre-season tour of Mexico and the United States, is currently tied to the Liga outfit until 2010.
Although keen on extending for a further four years, talks regarding his £10m a year image rights are proving to be problematic.
Ronaldinho reportedly wants to stay in control of the rights while Barca are keen for him to hand them over in return for a significant increase in wages.
Only if a compromise can’t be reached could Milan swoop for the World Cup player as Barca chief Joan Laporta has suggested.
“Milan have asked for Ronaldinho and although he is not on sale, we have to treat him correctly and try to find a compromise between his needs and the needs of the club,†he told newspaper El Mundo Deportivo.
It’s understood that Silvio Berlusconi is ready to allow the Italian club to part with £57m in order to net the European Footballer of the Year.
The proposed deal would also see the attacking sensation sign a five-year deal worth £8.5m a season.
Football Italia