AC MILAN are set to beat Chelsea to sign Ronaldinho this
summer. The Italian giants are lining up a world record bid for the
Barcelona ace. Milan have put the first steps in place to lure the
Brazilian forward to Serie A. And it is understood that Ronnie, 26,
is ready to end his hugely successful four-year spell in Spain. The
move would smash the £46million fee Real Madrid paid for Zinedine
Zidane in 2001.
Ronaldinho's contract contains a release clause of £85million - but
Barca will be forced to lower that figure this summer. Milan have
struggled this season due to an eight-point reduction in the wake
of the Italian match-fixing scandal and the £30million sale of
Andriy Shevchenko to Chelsea. They are desperate to boost their
ageing squad ahead of next season, particularly with rivals
Juventus - who were relegated in the scandal - set to return to
Serie A.
Milan completed the signing of another Brazilian superstar -
Ronaldo - last month but the £5m deal was just part of the
masterplan to sign Ronaldinho. The Rossoneri know that Ronaldo -
overweight and injury-prone - is now past the superb displays
witnessed during his five years at city rivals Inter. But they hope
Ronaldinho's chance to play with his friend and international
team-mate will help convince him to swap the Nou Camp for the San
Siro.
Tempting the Chelsea target - who owner Roman Abramovich would love
to bring to Stamford Bridge - should be easier than first thought.
Ronaldinho has been instrumental behind two La Liga triumphs and
last year's Champions League final victory over Arsenal. But the
two-time FIFA World Player of the Year is aware that the good times
are under threat.
Coach Frank Rijkaard is considering a year's sabbatical when this
season ends - and Ronnie also believes it could be an ideal time to
leave. The signing of Ronaldo is the latest ploy in Milan's attempt
to capture Ronnie.
Ricardo Oliviera, another Brazilian, has failed to impress since
signing for them last summer - in fact, he was offered to Real
Madrid as part of an exchange for Ronaldo last month. But the
Italians originally made their move for the Real Betis forward
because his agent - Roberto de Assis - just happens to be
Ronaldinho's brother.
De Assis has since split with Oliviera but remains close to Milan.
The club have also been encouraged by the recent admission by Barca
finance director Ferrano Soriano that there are no plans to start
talks with Ronaldinho over an extension to his contract that
expires in 2010.
Milan this week claimed that it would be almost impossible to sign
him but it may be one of the first of many public declarations as
the Italians privately make their move. Vice-president Adriano
Galliani said: "In my opinion Ronaldinho is a player who will never
move from Barcelona. "Surely president Joan Laporta, the player and
his brother know that should there be such an occasion, Milan would
be in pole position. But it's useless having illusions.
"I have always said that I don't believe such a rich and powerful
club will decide to deprive themselves of such an important player.
"It's clear that should they have to do this, we will be there.
This is the clear opinion I have from president Silvio
Berlusconi."
To fund any move for Ronaldinho, Milan would almost certainly have
to sell their current Brazilian star Kaka. Real Madrid are keen to
take him to Spain. In a further twist Inter president Massimo
Moratti - who is already chasing Barca's young Argentine star
Lionel Messi - is set to enter the bidding for Ronaldinho.
Moratti is furious that Milan have signed their former golden boy
Ronaldo and are now ready to hijack their bid. Whether this will
herald a genuine offer for Ronaldinho or a simple plan to propel
the bidding war ski-high remains to be seen. Either way, the battle
to prise the world's best player from Barca is already under
way.
