Inter president not giving up on Ronaldinho

Despite several reports and even pictures about the Thursday events (read more here), Roberto de Assís, brother and agent of Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28), yesterday denied in an interview with Spanish news agency EFE that he met with AC Milan officials earlier this week to negotiate about a transfer of his brother. Asked about the future of Ronaldinho in Barcelona, Roberto referred to the running contract but didn't exclude anything: "He has a contract until 2010, but I cannot confirm or deny anything. This is football, so everything can happen."

Catalan sports paper Sport nevertheless claims that, although Inter could have offered more money, Milan and Roberto have already come to a total agreement: Ronaldinho will sign a contract for four seasons and will earn 8 million euro net a year.

The only thing that is still needed to close the deal is that Barcelona agrees on the transfer price. With Milan offering 20 million euro and Barcelona asking 30 million euro, the paper believes the final fee will turn around 25 million euro. Barcelona would also ask a compensation for the income loss due to the fact that Ronaldinho won't be able to participate in the summer tours.

The latter would not be a problem for AC Milan president Silvio Berlusconi who has promised the arrival of the Brazilian and can't come back on this anymore. Catalan sports paper El Mundo Deportivo claims that AC Milan vice president Adriano Galliani stayed in permanent contact with Berlusconi during the Thursday meeting in the Giannino restaurant, owned by AC Milan defender and Georgian international Kakha Kaladze, in Milan (read more here).

The Milan president is aware that Ronaldinho is a world icon and that the transfer will have great consequences for Milan and his companies. Ronaldinho could make the Milan brand rise 50 per cent in growing markets like the Asian one. The involvement of Berlusconi in the upcoming Italian elections would have been decisive in last week's developments.

As was the renewed interest of Inter Milan. El Mundo Deportivo claims that Roberto promised Inter president Massimo Moratti to meet with him before he signes anything. Moratti confirmed this to the paper: "We know that Ronaldinho will only decide on his future after talks with Inter. Both Barcelona and the player have assured us thereof."

To Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport, Moratti said a similar thing: "We are receiving clear signs of interest. The player and Barcelona will not move a muscle before hearing our proposal." El Mundo Deportivo suggests that Roberto and Moratti could meet shortly in Paris, where both Moratti and Ronaldinho have a house and where Roberto will spend the coming days.

Barcelona surely doesn't plan to interfere in the whole process. Barcelona president Joan Laporta has a great relationship with both Milan (through Milan vice president Galliani) and Inter (through the son of the Inter president). When Barcelona receives a reasonable transfer fee, Ronaldinho will be able to leave without a problem to the club of his wish.