Arsene KO'd in Dinho bid
By DAVE KIDD
ARSENE WENGER has revealed that he was thwarted in a bid to sign
Ronaldinho as Thierry Henrys Arsenal strike partner.
The Gunners boss was strangled by red tape when he tried to buy the
Brazilian five years ago.
Wenger was in talks with Ronaldinhos brother and agent Roberto
Assiss about signing him from Brazilian club Gremio at the age of
20.
But the move collapsed because he could not obtain a work permit as
he was a non-EU player who had not played enough international
matches.
Paris St Germain snapped him up a year later and he has now won the
World Player of the Year award twice as a Barcelona player.
Wenger said: Its a rule I dont like and its why I think we
should have a quota system instead.
"Basically, the rule forces you to wait to buy the player but by
then you cannot afford him any more.
Wenger admits hitman Ronaldinho deserved to retain his world award
this week but insisted Gunners striker Henry, who came fourth,
would have rivalled him had he been fully fit throughout
2005.
Wenger said: I hope, and I am confident that Thierry will get it
one day.
