Ronaldinho linked with Inter

Yesterday Barcelona playmaker Ronaldinho (28) was twice linked with Italian top club Inter Milan, without being very clear where the rumours came from and with no confirmation to be found.

First, Catalan sports paper Sport reported that "some Italian media" claimed that Inter was ready to make an offer for the Brazilian international, given the tense relations between Ronaldinho and Barcelona. Inter would already have contacted Barcelona through player's agent Ernesto Bronzetti. Barcelona would have asked for more time saying "This is not the time", suggesting that the negotiations could be launched once the season has ended.

Later, football site Goal reported that "sources in Italy" claimed that Inter president Massimo Moratti and sports supplier Nike are intensifying their efforts to transfer Ronaldinho. In the beginning of next week a meeting between Inter officials, Nike representatives and the agent of the player would be held. Inter would be ready to pay 60 million euro (°) for Ronaldinho, although not wanting to include Brazilian goalkeeper Júlio César (28), estimated at 30 million euro (°°), in the deal, like Barcelona has been asking. Barcelona would also still be interested in Inter central defender Marco Materazzi (34).

Manchester City discussing Giovani deal

British tabloid The Daily Mirror claims that Manchester City is negotiating a deal on Barcelona right winger Giovani Dos Santos (18).

While Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon already tried to sign the Mexican international back in January, Manchester City manager Sven-Göran Eriksson would now have used his connections with Giovani's agent Pini Zahavi to get ahead of other interested clubs. Manchester City would be discussing a permanent deal as well as a one-year loan with an option to buy the player, who is rated at 9 million euro (°).

(read more on the Giovani transfer story here)

Ronaldinho is becoming a major problem (3)

Not only within the club less and less people are supporting Ronaldinho. Since his performances on the pitch cannot compensate anymore for his lack of training intensity and his supposedly very active party life, the majority of the fans and the press has apparently also given up on the Brazilian. Josep María Casanovas, the founder of Catalan sports paper Sport, hit hard at the player in his column last weekend, and concluded: "To recover the best version of Ronaldinho seems an impossible task."

With a lot of people in and around the club wishing for the player to leave in the summer, Ronaldinho seems on the contrary more than ever decided to stay in Barcelona until his contract expires in 2010. Madrid tabloid As claimed that the player has already let some friends know nothing will make him change his mind. Ronaldinho would be annoyed by the fact that Barcelona president Joan Laporta in the end didn't renew his contract until 2014, like had been discussed a few years ago.

In an interview with the German edition of the monthly magazine Vanity Fair, Ronaldinho repeated once again he doesn't have plans to leave. Asked about the the rumours linking him with clubs like AC Milan or Chelsea, the Brazilian said: "With Barça I have a wonderful future. The guys here are my family. I'm still as happy here as I was the first day. I would like to stay and will do everything that I can to regain my best form."

Meanwhile, last Friday Ronaldinho celebrated his 28th birthday. An age at which most players reach their top...


(this is the third and last part of this contribution, the first part and the second part were published yesterday)

(read more on the Ronaldinho transfer story here)

Father Giovani confirms Manchester City

Asked about the rumours linking his son with some English Premier League teams (read more here), Zizinho, the father of Barcelona right winger Giovani Dos Santos (18), confirmed in an interview with Mexican newspaper El Universal the talks with Manchester City: "Yes, Manchester City has shown interest, although I cannot give more information because his agent is the one who is negotiating."

Giovani's father nevertheless stresses the player is now focusing on Barcelona: "I want him to finish the season in a good way and after that we can say more on his future." The paper says Giovani's buyout clause of 30 million euro (°) has been the main obstacle in past negotiations.

(read more on the Giovani transfer story here)

Messi to stay for life

Jorge Messi, the father of Barcelona right winger Lionel Messi (20), told in an interview with Catalan sports paper Sport that he believes the Argentinian international, whose recovery is going well and who will return to Barcelona next week, will stay his whole career in Barcelona: "I don't think there's any chance to see him wear another jersey one day. He feels comfortable in the club and I don't see him leave."