SAO PAULO, Brazil (AP) - Barcelona midfielder Ronaldinho is "calm" about his future despite his club making clear the former world footballer of the year has no future with the team.
Visiting his native Brazil, Ronaldinho attended Wednesday's match between the national sides of Argentina and Brazil, which ended in a 0-0 draw.
"I have a contract with Barcelona until 2010. Everything is calm right now," Ronaldinho, who missed much of last season to injury, told Brazil's SporTV.
He added that "a lot of things will happen" before Barcelona's preseason training begins on July 19.
Earlier on Wednesday, a Barcelona official said that negotiations for the transfer of Ronaldinho - along with Samuel Eto'o and Deco - are "advanced."
"The club is planning the season with the idea that these players won't be there. We are in advanced negotiations for them to move to other clubs," Barcelona's vice president for financial affairs, Ferran Soriano, was quoted as saying by news agency Europa Press.
Ronaldinho, who has lost his status as the world's best player after a poor season, is being courted by Manchester City. AC Milan has opted out, according to vice president Adriano Galliani, who said the Italians cannot compete financially with the club owned by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Ronaldinho said he hopes to resume playing with the national side once he has recovered from his injuries. He missed the last six weeks of the Spanish season with torn adductor muscles.
"God willing I'll return. I'm recovering from my injury and I want to return healthy as soon as possible to the national team," he said.
Ronaldinho also said that he didn't know if he preferred a move to an English or Italian club, and he was certain he would play on Brazil's Olympic team in China.
Barcelona finished third in the Spanish league this past season, 18 points behind champion Real Madrid - its worst showing in five years. The Catalan team has not won a major trophy for two years
Mediazone Badman said
16:54 06/19 2008
ok
YUNG_BERRY said
20:54 06/25 2008
ok
djrichiepoo said
21:11 06/30 2008
ok
Xavier_Hew said
16:46 07/05 2008
Messi is d future of that club... but if I was him, I wud leave
"I have a contract with Barcelona until 2010. Everything is calm right now," Ronaldinho, who missed much of last season to injury, told Brazil's SporTV.
He added that "a lot of things will happen" before Barcelona's preseason training begins on July 19.
Earlier on Wednesday, a Barcelona official said that negotiations for the transfer of Ronaldinho - along with Samuel Eto'o and Deco - are "advanced."
"The club is planning the season with the idea that these players won't be there. We are in advanced negotiations for them to move to other clubs," Barcelona's vice president for financial affairs, Ferran Soriano, was quoted as saying by news agency Europa Press.
Ronaldinho, who has lost his status as the world's best player after a poor season, is being courted by Manchester City. AC Milan has opted out, according to vice president Adriano Galliani, who said the Italians cannot compete financially with the club owned by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
Ronaldinho said he hopes to resume playing with the national side once he has recovered from his injuries. He missed the last six weeks of the Spanish season with torn adductor muscles.
"God willing I'll return. I'm recovering from my injury and I want to return healthy as soon as possible to the national team," he said.
Ronaldinho also said that he didn't know if he preferred a move to an English or Italian club, and he was certain he would play on Brazil's Olympic team in China.
Barcelona finished third in the Spanish league this past season, 18 points behind champion Real Madrid - its worst showing in five years. The Catalan team has not won a major trophy for two years