THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MILAN, Italy — Ronaldinho is a step closer to leaving FC Barcelona and joining AC Milan, according to the agent of the Brazil playmaker.
"In principle, Ronaldinho and Milan are in agreement," Ronaldinho’s agent and brother, Roberto De Assis, told La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Ronaldinho, who has been out with a muscle injury since the beginning of April and will likely miss the rest of the season, has a contract at Barcelona through 2010.
But he is thought likely to leave at the end of the season because of disagreements with the club. He has been often injured this year and sometime benched even when fit.
The club would not say that a salary agreement had been reached, but did confirm media reports that De Assis and Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani had dinner together this week in Milan.
"There is the outline of an agreement with the player and we have to come to agreement with Barcelona," Galliani told La Gazzetta.
The Italian media have said that Milan may offer Barcelona 20 million euros (C$32.3 million) for Ronaldinho, but could be drawn into in a bidding war with city rival Inter Milan over the Brazilian.
Inter and Barcelona executives will meet Monday to discuss Ronaldinho, although it is probably too late for Inter to scupper Milan’s bid to sign him, La Gazzetta said.
De Assis has also reportedly met with directors at English club Manchester City.