English Premier League side Blackburn confirmed yesterday that they have made an ambitious 24.6 million euro (US$32.9 million) move for AC Milan’s Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho.
The club’s new Indian owners Venky’s revealed that their local office in Brazil is negotiating a three-year deal with Ronaldinho’s manager and they are prepared to do whatever it takes to land the former World Player of the Year.
Venky’s chairmain Anuradha Desai told BBC Radio Lancashire: “He [Ronaldinho] is keen to play in the EPL [English Premier League] and I think that goes in our favor. To be precise [it is] 7.6 million euros for first year and about 8.5 million euros for the second and third years.”
Blackburn manager Steve Kean welcomed the move as a statement of intent from the new owners.
“I know there has been contact made by the owners to -representatives of Ronaldinho, but I don’t know how far down the line it is and whether it will actually happen,” he said.
“If any Premier League manager was asked if they wanted to sign someone who has been World Player of the Year twice they would be interested,” he said.
Desai also revealed that Rovers had made attempts to sign former England captain David Beckham on loan from Los Angeles Galaxy.
Ronaldinho is set to close the door on his AC Milan career after leaving their winter training camp in Dubai, coach Massimiliano Allegri confirmed on Saturday.
The 30-year-old Brazil international had reportedly been poised to return to his homeland to re-join either formative club Gremio or Flamengo, having fallen out of favor at Milan this season.
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