A report in Saturday's Gazzetta dello Sport claimed that Brazil forward Ronaldinho has reached an agreement with Milan on a possible summer transfer.

The former twice world player of the year has fallen out with Barcelona this season as a dip in form and frequent off-field indiscretions have seen the love affair between club and player come to a bitter end after five years.

He is currently sidelined with a leg injury that could keep him out of Barcelona's stretch run, where they are chasing La Liga and Champions League glory.

But according to Gazzetta: "Ronaldinho to Milan: the ball is in Barcelona's court."

The daily sports newspaper quoted Ronaldinho's agent and brother Roberto de Assis as claiming that only a fee needs to be agreed with Barca to make the move a reality.

"Basically, Ronaldinho and Milan have come to an agreement," he said before insisting that it was not yet a done deal.

"Milan are a great team, Ronaldinho was impressed with his first contact with them.

"The important thing is that he will be happy. When will a deal be finalised? You have to be patient."

Gazzetta claims that a deal worth 8 million euros ($12,656,826) a year to the Brazilian until 2012 has been agreed while suggesting Barcelona would be willing to do business for a sale of 30 million euros.

However, it also claims that Milan doesn't want to spend that kind of money, looking to spend only 16 million euros, and that higher bids could come in from Inter Milan (25 million euros) and Manchester City (40 million euros).

Gazzetta also speculates about a major transfer merry-go-round this summer, particularly involving Italian and Spanish clubs as they try to catch up with their English counterparts, who have dominated in the Champions Legaue this season.

In eight matches between English and Italian sides this season in Europe's premier competition, Italians lost six times while drawing the other two and winning none.

Spanish teams fared better, getting a win, a draw and two defeats from four encounters with the English.

Strikers seem to top the list of wanted players, according to Gazzetta, with Chelsea's Didier Drogba linked to Inter Milan, Palermo's Brazilian Amauri interesting Juventus and Genoa's Marco Borriello a reported target for Milan.

(AFP April 14, 2008)