Milan claim Ronaldinho deal close

AC Milan are closing in on the signature of Barcelona forward Ronaldinho, according to the Serie A club’s lawyer.

Barca president Joan Laporta met with Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani and the Italian club’s transfer consultant and agent Ernesto Bronzetti in the Catalan capital today.

As Laporta left the meeting he would confirm only that “talks are continuing”, according to reports in Spain.

Leandro Cantamessa, Milan’s lawyer, was more confident a deal would be reached.

“There are good possibilities that Ronaldinho’s transfer to Milan will be completed,” he told the club’s official website, www.acmilan.com.

“There are only certain financial matters, but our legal office is already preparing all the necessary papers.

“I have spoken to Galliani, and he was calm even though I would like to point out that nothing has been finalised. We are all waiting.”

While Milan are seemingly the favourites to sign Ronaldinho, the Primera Liga outfit have not ruled out the possibility of offloading him to Manchester City.

Transfer talks between Barca and Milan reportedly stalled earlier this week, with the Italian club only willing to pay £11.9m plus up to around £4m in add-ons – £7.9m less than Barca were demanding.

The Rossoneri are understood to have increased their bid by £3.9m, but with City reportedly waiting in the wings with a bid of £27.8m, Barca are in no hurry to act.

“We don’t have any preference where Ronaldinho moves to,” club director Rafael Yuste told reporters.

“We want all the parties to end up satisfied. We are calm because we are working with two offers.

“We don’t have any sort of pressure. Our desire is that Ronaldinho leaves happy. Who knows, in hours all doubts could vanish.”

Milan are hoping to quickly close out the deal in order to unveil Ronaldinho tomorrow, the same day their squad begins pre-season training.