The bold pursuit of Ronaldinho finally came to an end
for Manchester City last night when the Brazilian agreed to join AC
Milan in a transfer worth up to $19.8million. The deal was struck
at around 10pm after Ronaldinho had reacted angrily earlier in the
day to City's attempt to structure his vast salary in a
pay-as-you-play deal.
City wanted to withhold at least 50 per cent of his staggering
?200,000-aweek wage demands based on his fitness, appearances,
goals, commercial activities and their position in the Barclays
Premier League.
The deal offered by City stated that if Ronaldinho was fit to
play regularly, scored plenty of goals, sold plenty of shirts and
helped the club into the top six then he would be paid in full.
However, the two-time World Player of the Year wanted all the
money up front and City were not prepared to agree to that.
'Ronaldinho does not do auditions,' said a source close to the
Brazilian just before the move was clinched. 'If City are as eager
as they say they are, they know the requirements. Or maybe they are
not as keen as they would like you to believe.'
Countering the claim, a City insider said: 'Club owner Dr
Thaksin is very keen to bring Ronaldinho to the Premier League but
he is not foolish. The deal is there for Ronaldinho to be rewarded
for being successful.
'There is a challenge for him here, but will he accept the
challenge?' Thaksin Shinawatra warned Ronaldinho's team of advisers
about the wage structure when they met in Thailand a month ago -
but it seems Ronaldinho may have been using this hurdle as an
excuse to back out and gain a permanent transfer to Milan.
Milan matched City's basic offer of $100,000 a week, and less in
respect of the transfer fee, but the player felt Milan's heritage
was more appealing. As Sportsmail revealed this week, City followed
up an emailed offer of $22million on Sunday - it was accepted by
the Spaniards - by sending a delegation to Barcelona to try to
complete the audacious signing.
A initial meeting on Monday night involving Thaksin's chief
negotiator, Pairoj Piempongsant, and Ronaldinho's brother, Roberto
de Assis, went smoothly, but a second discussion with lawyers
yesterday did not proceed so well. De Assis returned for another
meeting with AC Milan's transfer broker Adriano Galliani, who was
later seen with Barcelona president Joan Laporta.
Ronaldinho, who has agreed a three year contract, is due to
arrive in Italy at lunchtime to undergo a medical. His transfer fee
will initially be $16.7m, with the rest performance-related.
