AC Milan are on the brink of completing their purchase of Barcelona's Brazilian playmaker Ronaldinho, the Italian press reported on Saturday.
According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, an agreement has been reached between AC Milan's vice-president Adriano Galliano and Barcelona president Joan Laporta for a fee of €15 million, with Ronaldinho set to sign a two-year contract to 2010 worth €6.5 million per year.
It will be a major coup for the 2007 European Champions, who are still licking their wounds after failing to reach the 2008-09 Champions League and needed a big signing to signal their intent for next season.
The club will also be delighted with the price that they have negotiated for a player they have been tracking for over a year, with the final total €20 million lower than Barcelona's initial request of €35 million.
Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti is expected to play him in an all-Brazilian attacking trident, along with Kaka and their young sensation, Alexander Pato.
The former AC Milan and Roma midfielder will have high hopes for a player who hit 70 goals in 149 matches at the Nou Camp and helped Barcelona to the 2006 Champions League title.
There was no mention made as to whether Ronaldinho will be able to take his place as part of Brazil's squad for the Beijing Olympic Games.
He was initially named in the 18-man squad before new Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola refused to release him.
Since the end of the 2007-08 season, Ancelotti has added Italy fullback Gianluca Zambrotta and French midfielder Mathieu Flamini to his squad, whilst he has also recalled striker Marco Borriello, who was on loan at Genoa.
The club have also moved closer to capturing Emmanuel Adebayor after Arsenal dropped their asking price, according to the player's agent.
Milan have long been linked to the 24-year-old but reportedly balked at the hefty transfer fee which Arsenal slapped on his head.
However, Vincenzo Morabito claims that the Gunners have now almost halved the price tag.
‘We're working to make the deal easier,’ he told Italian television channel Antenna3. ‘The signs are very positive.
‘We're arriving at more reasonable figures.
‘They're still a lot, but a lot less than the €45million that were initially asked for. A bit more than half.
‘More than that of (Samuel) Eto'o and (Didier) Drogba but they are a little bit older.’
