Ronaldinho agent plays down Chelsea link

Ronaldinho’s agent has denied reports Chelsea are set to make a £54.5m (€79.5m) offer for the Barcelona striker.

Well-respected Spanish football show ‘El Tirachinas’, broadcast on Radio Cope, insists the Premiership champions have agreed a deal with the player and will now test Barca’s resolve by lodging a bid to make Ronaldinho the most expensive player in the world.

The Brazilian’s agent and brother Roberto de Assis has denied the claims, however, insisting no deal is on the cards.

He said: “I do not know anything of this offer, nothing has arrived yet although in football you can never be surprised.”

Ronaldinho, 25, is thought to be unsettled at the Nou Camp following the resignation of former vice-president Sandro Rosell, who quit after a long-running dispute with president Joan Laporta.

Rosell, the former chief of sportswear firm Nike in South America, played a prominent role in bringing Ronaldinho to Catalonia.

Despite his exit, it seems highly unlikely Barca would entertain the idea of selling Ronaldinho, whatever the fee they would receive, as he remains an integral part of coach Frank Rijkaard’s plans.

Indeed, Barca are currently negotiating a new contract with Ronaldinho’s representatives which would also increase his buy-out clause, which currently stands at £100m (€150m).