Ronaldinho is learning Italian

Like could have been expected, the transfer of Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28) probably won't be resolved soon and seems on its way to become the transfer story of this summer.

The negotiations between Barcelona and AC Milan has apparently reached a dead point after a conference call last Saturday where there appeared to be a serious difference between offer and demand. Italian sports paper La Gazzetta dello Sport claims that Barcelona was asking 50 million euro° for both Ronaldinho and Barcelona full back Gianluca Zambrotta (31), while Milan would only be ready to pay 20 million euro° for the two players.

Milan president Silvio Berlusconi (on Italian radio station Radio Radio), Milan vice president Adrino Galliani and Milan adviser Ernesto Bronzetti (on Italian television channel RAI Sport) kept repeating all week long that Barcelona is asking far too much. Galliani even threatened to cancel the negotiations and to focus on other players if Barcelona would not accept Milan's conditions. Bronzetti said that Barcelona is initially always asking the double of their real target. Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti, who sent his son to Barcelona last week to hold talks with Barcelona representatives on Ronaldinho, also joined in and agreed with the Milan officials.

Barcelona is keeping a total silence on the negotiations, but on Wednesday Barcelona economic vice president Ferran Soriano hit out at the Milan negotiation tactics in an interview with Catalan radio station RAC 1: "This habit of always running to the press and negotiating through indirect statements is a style of last century. In the 21st century things can be done with more discretion. We certainly won't play that game."

Catalan sports paper Sport reported that Galliani nevertheless was in Barcelona on Wednesday and negotiated with Barcelona president Joan Laporta after the Champions League game against Manchester United. Italian sports paper Il Corriere dello Sport claims that Milan has changed its attitude and would now be willing to accept a fixed transfer price plus important variables based on matches played and goals scored by Ronaldinho and trophies won by Milan.

Meanwhile, Italian newspaper La Repubblica claims that Ronaldinho is already learning Italian, with the help of Zambrotta and of his friend Mimmo, a Napoli restaurant keeper who acts as private cook to Ronaldinho and his family. There you have the one responsible for that belly...

pep's opinion:
With Ronaldinho at this moment in my opinion worth somewhere between 25 and 30 million euro, and Zambrotta between 7 and 9 million euro, I consider 35 million euro for the two a correct price. With of course, in the case of Ronaldinho, important variables so Barcelona also gains if Ronaldinho would get back on his top level.

Read more:
Ronaldinho agrees terms with Milan
Ronnie's week: Barcelona-Milan
Ronaldinho to Milan: principal agreement

Premier League clubs back in for Ronaldinho

Now that the negotiations with Milan doesn't appear to be anywhere close to a conclusion, some interested English Premier League clubs could give it another go and try to transfer Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28).

Manchester City
On Tuesday, British tabloid The Daily Telegraph claimed that Manchester City believes that they can successfully re-enter the race to sign Ronaldinho. Manchester City representatives would have met with Roberto de Assís, brother and agent of Ronaldinho, in Manchester (read more here) and with Barcelona officials in Barcelona (read more here) earlier this month. Kia Joorabchian, the British-Iranian representative of Manchester United forward Carlos Tévez and Liverpool defensive midfielder Javier Mascherano, is said to be possibly involved in the negotiations.

British tabloid The Daily Mirror says that Manchester City president Thaksin Shinawatra has hired player's agent Pini Zahavi hoping he can broker a deal thanks to his close relationship with Barcelona president Joan Laporta. Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson, also a close friend of Zahavi, would have given his approval to the transfer, although British newspaper The Independent says that Ronaldinho would not be a priority of the manager.

With Zahavi flying back to England in the next hours with a report, there could be an announcement in the coming days. Manchester City owner Shinawatra will be for the first time in months in Manchester this weekend and meet with Eriksson to discuss the coming transfer summer.

Talks were already confirmed last weekend by Manchester City executive director Taweesuk Jack Srisumrid (read more here). The club wants to become the biggest English club in East Asia and Ronaldinho's status could give a boost in that direction and at the same time get more people to the stadium. Manchester City would hope to sign the Brazilian for only 9 million euro° with Barcelona happy to get his salary off the books. Ronaldinho would be offered a week salary of 190 000 euro° or even a part of the ticket sales and the merchandising.

Tottenham
British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims today that Roberto has been offering his brother around the Premier League and that Tottenham was one of the clubs taking the offer seriously. The club is considering a bid and a Tottenham official flew to Spain to meet with Ronaldinho representatives recently. Ronaldinho would be a huge transfer coup for Tottenham and guarantee them lucrative marketing and publicity spin-offs. Manager Juande Ramos would like to sign the player.

Chelsea
Italian newspaper La Repubblica claimed on Wednesday that also Chelsea would have rejoined the race for Ronaldinho (read more here and here). AC Milan adviser Ernesto Bronzetti indeed told Italian television channel RAI Sport last weekend that Chelsea is one of the main clubs to go after the Brazilian: "Few clubs can afford Ronaldinho. Milan and Chelsea are the two clubs who are insisting the most for a transfer. But Ronaldinho doesn't really like English football."

Read more:
Manchester City serious about Ronaldinho
Ronaldinho agent met with Chelsea
Ronaldinho used Manchester City