PSG ready to release Ronaldinho

Paris St Germain coach Vahid Halilhodzic revealed this morning that the cash-strapped club are now willing to negotiate the sale of Ronaldinho.

The 23-year-old Brazilian World Cup winner has been targeted by a host of clubs across Europe including Barcelona, Real Madrid, Newcastle United and Manchester United.

PSG, who have previously stated they were reluctant to let the player go, are desperate for cash after their summer recruitment drive was put under the control of French football’s financial watchdog, the DNCG, because of their large debts.

And for the first time since he succeeded Luis Fernandez as coach a month ago, Halilhodzic has refused to rule out Ronaldinho’s departure.

“Ronnie has another three years on his contract with us and when I arrived I said that he would not go and I did not see what could make me change my mind,” the Bosnian boss told Le Parisien. “But our economical situation is delicate.”

The DNCG control over PSG means the French club must offload players before they can buy.

And United appear to be in pole position following the £25million deal to sell David Beckham to Real Madrid last week.

“Right now Ronnie is still at PSG and I would be delighted to coach a player of that calibre,” Halilhodzic added.

“But his agents want him to go and if we receive a huge offer, considering our financial situation, we will think about it.

“Maybe we will not have any opportunity to recruit any player if we remain in such a stalemate. If the finances of the club were healthy he would never go.”

Ronaldinho’s agent and brother Roberto Assis declared earlier this week that Ronaldinho would be keen to join United, saying: “Every good player wants to join a team like them and we are happy that they have shown an interest in him.

“We will talk with PSG and I think he will leave. The situation is fairly straightforward now that Brazil are out of the Confederations Cup.”

The PSG players are this morning resuming training at their usual Camp des Loges training base under the watchful eyes of Halilhodzic and club president Francis Graille.