City Prepare For Ronaldinho

Speculation surrounding Brazilian superstar Ronaldinho joining up at Eastlands have been mooted for weeks, however these rumours now appear to have more credibility.

Various press reports indicate club owner Thaksin Shinawatra will stop at nothing to lure the 28-year-old away from Barcelona and is willing to pay a world record £200,000 a week for his services.

Apparently, sources close to Thaksin say that members of City's board are due to fly out to the player's home city of Porto Alegre in Brazil to meet with him face to face this weekend. Should negotiations go well, Ronaldinho may well become a City player as early as next week.

A Spanish source told the Daily Mail...

'Ronaldinho is showing a growing interest in going to England, although there is still much negotiating ahead, it is possible. Anyway, who else [Manchester City] can afford him?'

In recent months, Ronaldinho has reportedly had a tour of the City of Manchester stadium, its facilities, while his brother and agent Roberto De Assis has also held a series of meetings with Thaksin's right-hand man, Pairoj Piempongsant, to discuss the potential transfer.

Should the deal go ahead, City fans can expect to see one of the world's most gifted players wear the number 10 shirt.