Milan have confirmed they will complete the signing of Ronaldinho.
After rejecting an offer from Manchester City, Ronaldinho has agreed a three-year deal with the Milan club, keeping him at the San Siro until 2011.
Milan released a statement on their official website which read: “AC Milan and Barcelona have reached an agreement in principle over the transfer of Ronaldinho.
“The player will be in Milan [on Wednesday] to undergo a medical and sign a contract that will keep him at Milan until June 30 2011.”
Milan president Silvio Berlusconi confirmed that vice-president Adriano Galliani had completed the deal.
“Galliani phoned me this evening and there has been a handshake,” he told Sky Italia.
“I have no reason to doubt it and tomorrow morning the contract will arrive.”
And Galliani added: “Tomorrow (Wednesday) Ronaldinho will undergo medical examinations, and once he has completed them he will be a Milan player.”
Gazzetta dello Sport reported on its website that Milan will pay Barcelona just £14.6m for the Brazilian, with the figure likely to be increased by performance-related bonuses. City had reportedly bid £25.5m for the 28-year-old Brazilian, but Ronaldinho informed Barcelona officials that he was only interested in a move to Milan.
Ronaldinho helped Barcelona win back-to-back Spanish league titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06 as well as the Champions League in 2006, but failed to earn a regular place in the starting XI last season because of injury and fitness issues.
The appointment of Pep Guardiola at Camp Nou signaled the end of Ronaldinho’s Barcelona career, with the new coach determined to rid the club of the disruptive elements that had undermined successive campaigns. Deco, the Portuguese playmaker has been sold to Chelsea, while striker Samuel Eto’o, who was often at loggerheads with Ronaldinho, has been tipped to leave before the transfer window closes at the end of August.
