Question:
Ronaldinho wants to join United
Ronaldinho's protracted transfer to Manchester United took a massive step forward on Thursday night when his agent admitted Old Trafford was the Brazilian's preferred destination.
Paris St Germain are believed to be weighing up United's latest offer for the 23-year-old, who has also been courted by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea but after weeks of delay, now appear to be backed into a corner.
United officials were also on tenterhooks waiting to see if Sir Alex Ferguson's top summer target had been landed after the United boss himself entered negotiations earlier this week in a bid to push the deal through.
'Ronaldinho wants to go to Manchester United,' said the player's brother and agent Roberto Assis.
'Now it is just a question of waiting for the deal to be completed. PSG have an offer from Manchester United and we are waiting for a reply.'
Ronaldinho upped the ante over his proposed move by failing to return to the French capital for pre-season training today after the refusal of his club to grant his extra time off following his Confederations Cup commitments last month.
Like Ferguson and United chief executive Peter Kenyon, the star striker, whose free-kick memorably eliminated England from last summer's World Cup, has become increasingly frustrated at PSG's failure to conclude a transfer with the Old Trafford outfit.
Although Ronaldinho has expressed a preference for a move to Spain, only Real Madrid fit the bill and while the deal offered by the nine-times European Cup winners which would have seen the player remain with PSG for another season might have been appealing to the club, the prospect of missing out on another season of Champions League football is unpalatable to the player.
'I have to talk with the PSG president Francis Graille because Ronaldinho wants the situation concluded,' added Assis.
'We are working towards that and now it is just a question of timing.'
Assis had previously indicated he thought Ronaldinho's future would be determined today but that deadline now seems set to be extended.
However, Ferguson will be determined to have the player signed up before United embark on their four-match tour to the United States next Saturday.
The Red Devils chief knows he needs a big name to counter the £25million departure of England skipper David Beckham and the recent arrivals of David Bellion and Eric Djemba Djemba don't come close to filling the void.
However, it now seems certain that Djemba Djemba will get his wish to wear the number 17 shirt next season in memory of Cameroon team-mate Marc Vivien Foe, whose recent death left the football world stunned.
Scottish international Michael Stewart has accepted an invitation to join Nottingham Forest on their pre-season tour, freeing up the shirt Djemba Djemba wants to wear.
Stewart could follow fellow fringe man Luke Chadwick out of the Old Trafford exit door for a short spell.
Chadwick, who impressed during a loan stint at Reading at the back end of last season, has joined Burnley on a season-long deal.
With the Ronaldinho situation nearing resolution, United officials can continue to finalise plans for their ground-breaking trip to the States
Sir Alex Ferguson's side will visit Seattle, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia during their 16-day tour, which takes in matches against Celtic, top Mexican outfit Club America, Juventus and Barcelona.
Tickets remain only for the Club America tussle on July 27 as United's marketing machine looks to establish a foothold in the world's most lucrative commercial market.
Ferguson has already taken care to ensure the excessive travel does not take its toll on the Premiership champions by agreeing a deal to charter a specifically modified plane from CSI Aviation Services.
The 757 aircraft has 60 first-class seats to cater for the entire playing and coaching staff, who will also benefit from first-class catering and an open bar.
It is estimated the deal will cut 10 hours off United's total travel time on the trip, which is immediately followed by a flight to Lisbon for the friendly with Sporting on August 6 ahead of the Community Shield clash with Arsenal four days later.
United conclude their pre-season prepartions with a trip to Stoke the following Wednesday, but it is the trip across the Atlantic which really gets Neville excited.
'It is probably the most difficult pre-season we have had in terms of matches,' the England full-back told MUTV. 'But it is also the most exciting.
'To play in front of 70,000 people against opposition of that quality, and with Arsenal to follow, they really are massive games, the sort that really bring you on fitness wise.'
Neville will be hoping for no reaction to the foot surgery which ruled him out of the final two games of United's title-winning campaign, plus three England internationals.

Answer:

Ronaldinho wants to join United
Ronaldinho's protracted transfer to Manchester United took a massive step forward on Thursday night when his agent admitted Old Trafford was the Brazilian's preferred destination.
Paris St Germain are believed to be weighing up United's latest offer for the 23-year-old, who has also been courted by Real Madrid, Barcelona and Chelsea but after weeks of delay, now appear to be backed into a corner.
United officials were also on tenterhooks waiting to see if Sir Alex Ferguson's top summer target had been landed after the United boss himself entered negotiations earlier this week in a bid to push the deal through.
'Ronaldinho wants to go to Manchester United,' said the player's brother and agent Roberto Assis.
'Now it is just a question of waiting for the deal to be completed. PSG have an offer from Manchester United and we are waiting for a reply.'
Ronaldinho upped the ante over his proposed move by failing to return to the French capital for pre-season training today after the refusal of his club to grant his extra time off following his Confederations Cup commitments last month.
Like Ferguson and United chief executive Peter Kenyon, the star striker, whose free-kick memorably eliminated England from last summer's World Cup, has become increasingly frustrated at PSG's failure to conclude a transfer with the Old Trafford outfit.
Although Ronaldinho has expressed a preference for a move to Spain, only Real Madrid fit the bill and while the deal offered by the nine-times European Cup winners which would have seen the player remain with PSG for another season might have been appealing to the club, the prospect of missing out on another season of Champions League football is unpalatable to the player.
'I have to talk with the PSG president Francis Graille because Ronaldinho wants the situation concluded,' added Assis.
'We are working towards that and now it is just a question of timing.'
Assis had previously indicated he thought Ronaldinho's future would be determined today but that deadline now seems set to be extended.
However, Ferguson will be determined to have the player signed up before United embark on their four-match tour to the United States next Saturday.
The Red Devils chief knows he needs a big name to counter the £25million departure of England skipper David Beckham and the recent arrivals of David Bellion and Eric Djemba Djemba don't come close to filling the void.
However, it now seems certain that Djemba Djemba will get his wish to wear the number 17 shirt next season in memory of Cameroon team-mate Marc Vivien Foe, whose recent death left the football world stunned.
Scottish international Michael Stewart has accepted an invitation to join Nottingham Forest on their pre-season tour, freeing up the shirt Djemba Djemba wants to wear.
Stewart could follow fellow fringe man Luke Chadwick out of the Old Trafford exit door for a short spell.
Chadwick, who impressed during a loan stint at Reading at the back end of last season, has joined Burnley on a season-long deal.
With the Ronaldinho situation nearing resolution, United officials can continue to finalise plans for their ground-breaking trip to the States
Sir Alex Ferguson's side will visit Seattle, Los Angeles, New York and Philadelphia during their 16-day tour, which takes in matches against Celtic, top Mexican outfit Club America, Juventus and Barcelona.
Tickets remain only for the Club America tussle on July 27 as United's marketing machine looks to establish a foothold in the world's most lucrative commercial market.
Ferguson has already taken care to ensure the excessive travel does not take its toll on the Premiership champions by agreeing a deal to charter a specifically modified plane from CSI Aviation Services.
The 757 aircraft has 60 first-class seats to cater for the entire playing and coaching staff, who will also benefit from first-class catering and an open bar.
It is estimated the deal will cut 10 hours off United's total travel time on the trip, which is immediately followed by a flight to Lisbon for the friendly with Sporting on August 6 ahead of the Community Shield clash with Arsenal four days later.
United conclude their pre-season prepartions with a trip to Stoke the following Wednesday, but it is the trip across the Atlantic which really gets Neville excited.
'It is probably the most difficult pre-season we have had in terms of matches,' the England full-back told MUTV. 'But it is also the most exciting.
'To play in front of 70,000 people against opposition of that quality, and with Arsenal to follow, they really are massive games, the sort that really bring you on fitness wise.'
Neville will be hoping for no reaction to the foot surgery which ruled him out of the final two games of United's title-winning campaign, plus three England internationals.

Answer:

Barcelona still believe they can hijack Ronaldinho's proposed move to Manchester United - and that Chelsea can also steal in to rob Sir Alex Ferguson of his prey.
Barcelona's vice president Sandro Rosell has confirmed that his club have lodged an official bid with Paris SG for the Brazilian and that Chelsea have too.
And despite claims that the World Cup winner has told his agent and brother Roberto Assis that he prefers to go to Old Trafford, Rosell insists he doesn't believe that.
The complicated situation hasn't been made any clearer by PSG claiming they still haven't had a bid from Manchester United and that they plan to fine Ronaldinho for missing the start of pre-season training.
Now Rosell says he fears Chelsea's involvement more than Ferguson's.
Rosell said: 'We have been to PSG to present them with the offer that we can afford, now we are waiting for their answer. The offer is confidential.
'We have no doubt agreement will be made before the season starts, our season starts in August and we have until the 31st of that month to complete our deals, it could go on as long as that.
'We have talked to his agent and the player is now considering Barcelona, Manchester United and now Chelsea want his services.'
And Rosell insists that Barca not being in the Champions League should not be an issue.
He said: 'Champions League is something we will not have this year, but because of the history, size and quality or our club and team we will always be participating in the Champions League.
'It is only a one-year problem, it has to be treated like this, we must only view it as a one-year absence. You must not make decisions about joining a club because of one year out of the Champions League, you must make them long-term, over five or six years.'
Rosell also claims he does not accept that Ronaldinho wants to go to Old Trafford.
He continued on Sky Sports News: 'The fact people are saying Ronaldinho prefers Manchester United was something that only appeared in the British press, but the agent - his brother - has told us he did not say that.
'Where Ronaldinho is playing next season can only be answered by the player and PSG.'
The impact of Chelsea's move into the market concerns Rosell more than competing with Manchester United, although the Catalan club's vice-president doubts that it will be a long-term problem.
He said: 'What is happening at Chelsea is something that doesn't usually happen in the world of football. It happens from time to time, and we have to see how things develop.
'So far the new owner is willing to make a very strong team and contract the best players in the world, I hope he will make it, but we will all have to wait and see.
'How much money they have to offer will widen the market in the game, actions like this will change the situation, but it is something that is happening in just one year, we will have to wait and see what happens after that.
'We think that by then Chelsea will then follow the market and pay what the market is paying and not extravagant deals.'
Manchester United have declined to comment on the new development, while they are also being linked with Real Betis winger Joaquin, who is considered a potential £12million replacement for David Beckham.

Answer:

Paris Saint Germain are adamant they have yet to receive an improved written offer from Manchester United for their Brazilian midfielder Ronaldinho.
French newspaper L’Equipe reported on Tuesday that United had upped their offer for the 23-year-old to a figure nigh on £18million.
But through a statement on PSG’s official website, the club have denied receiving any such offer.
"There have been many rumours suggesting we have done a deal with Manchester United, but we have not yet received anything,” reads the statement. "Concerning his future, we would like to keep him and, at the moment, we have only received written offers from Barcelona and Chelsea.”
And it would appear that PSG are still favouring the proposal from Real Madrid in which a downpayment would be made now for Ronaldinho, with the player not moving to the Bernabeu until next summer.
"For PSG, the proposal which would suit us better is the one from Real Madrid. We would have the advantage of being able to keep Ronaldinho for another year before he joins the Spanish champions," the statement continued.
Ronaldinho was due back for PSG’s pre-season training at Aix-les-Bains yesterday (Thursday), but he failed to show. Subsequently, the Parisian club are planning to “punish” the player.
The statement on PSG’s website concluded: "Ronnie was set to re-join his team-mates on 10 July after benefiting from two weeks holiday following Brazil's elimination from the Confederations Cup, but is not yet here," read a statement on the PSG club website. "He will, therefore, be punished. His attitude shows a lack of respect for PSG.”
The saga continues…

Answer:

Reds fans from around the world are confident Ronaldinho will become a United player for the start of the 2003/04 season.
The on-going saga surrounding the Brazilian’s future at his French club PSG has continued apace this week, first with United supposedly upping the ante with an £18million bid, while yesterday Ronaldinho’s agent Roberto Assis confirmed Old Trafford is his client’s preferred club. United fans remain upbeat.
And not even today’s revelation on PSG’s website that the club are yet to receive any written offer from United could dampen the mood amongst Reds supporters desperate to see the skilful Brazilian at Old Trafford.
86.2% ManUtd.com readers are unequivocally confident Ronaldinho will be playing his football for United next season.
That opinion would have been slightly different a just over a week ago, when it looked like Real Madrid had won the race for the highly coveted midfielder. Now the Bernabeu club are rated by just 2.7% of readers as the likeliest destination for the Brazilian.
Not even Barcelona, who have apparently rejoined the race for Ronnie, are serious candidates, with just 5.8% of the voters indicating Barca would sign PSG's star man.
And according to ManUtd.com readers, the theory of Ronaldinho staying in Paris next term is an equally improbable one - only 5.3% of Reds fans think the Brazilian World Cup winner will be with PSG when Le Championnat kicks off.
But it would seem yesterday's developments have swung it for United supporters. After Assis said on Thursday evening: “Ronaldinho wants to go to Manchester United so at the moment it's just a question of waiting for the deal to be completed”, Reds fans are highly optimistic the move will be completed.

Answer:

Ronaldinho's agent and brother, Roberto Assis, confirmed late last night that Old Trafford is the Brazilian midfielder's favoured destination.
After weeks of speculation surrounding his future, it would appear Ronaldinho has made the personal decision on where he would like to play his football next season.
Roberto Assis promised a decision on his brother’s future by Thursday, and it duly came last night when it was confirmed he would prefer to become a United player.
Assis is quoted as saying: "Ronaldinho wants to go to Manchester United so at the moment it's just a question of waiting for the deal to be completed."
However, that promising news was dampened this morning when Ronaldinho’s French club Paris Saint Germain released a statement through their website claiming they had yet to receive a written offer for the Brazilian.

Answer:

Manchester United have moved closer to the signing of Ronaldinho after making a renewed offer for the Paris St Germain star.
It is understood United have offered up to £19million for the Brazil international, who it is also said will receive 25 per cent of the transfer fee as his part of the deal.
Old Trafford chief executive Peter Kenyon said: 'Things are moving well and we are making useful progress.
'We have made a renewed bid for the player and are hopeful we can bring things to a successful conclusion in the next few days - that is certainly our intention.
'We believe Ronaldinho wants to come to Old Trafford and that has been a motivating factor for us in pursuing him.
'It's now a question of reaching agreement with PSG but we are hopeful that will be done sooner rather than later.'
Earlier Barcelona, United's main rivals for the transfer, admitted that they would not be able to match the bid made by Old Trafford.
Barca vice president Sandro Rosell told BBC Sport: 'I have been told that Manchester United have made a higher offer.
'We have two advantages: the city of Barcelona and the magnificence of the club.
'We are asking players to come only if they are committed to the club. If it is only about money we would prefer him to go to United.
'He can make money in Manchester, but if he understands what it means to play for Barcelona and a country like Catalonia then he is more than welcome.
'We will not match United's personal terms. It's about the player's commitment, it's not about money. Maybe we are too romantic.'
The 24-year-old's agent, Roberto Assis, this week indicated a preference for a move to United, while Barcelona rejoined the race when rivals Real Madrid withdrew their interest
The player is determined to leave PSG and landed himself in trouble with the club when he failed to report for pre-season training on time

Answer:

Ronaldinho is ready to put pen to paper on a £19million deal to take him to Manchester United.
The Premiership champions confirmed yesterday that they had renewed their efforts to sign the Brazil star from Paris St Germain.
And while the French Ligue 1 club say that no deal will take place immediately, Ronaldinho himself has confirmed that Old Trafford is his preferred destination.
He told the News of the World: 'I am now able to concentrate on Manchester United - this is what I want and I am ready to move immediately.
'I am ready for the task of playing for them. I am flattered they want me. Now it's up to me to do my part and work hard, and I can promise everyone I will.
'I want to be the first Brazilian to be a Red - and now I know I am going to be.'
Bizarrely, the newspaper quotes him as adding: 'I have had all sorts of dreams about devils and, to tell you the truth, I have not yet seen one as cute as me.'
It is understood United have offered £16million for Ronaldinho with the fee rising to £19million, depending on his appearances for the club and its future success.
It is thought the World Cup winner will receive a quarter of the transfer fee as his part of the deal.
'Today, Manchester United are one of the three best clubs in the world.' Ronaldinho added. 'Their squad is so good that I can more or less compare them to the (world champion) Brazilian volleyball team.
'There are 23 fantastic players at Old Trafford and so I cannot rest for one moment if I want to get into the side.
'Professionally, there could be nothing more demanding in the world than playing at Old Trafford - even more so than playing at Real Madrid.
Yesterday, United chief executive Peter Kenyon confirmed his club had made further ground in its attempts to complete the deal.
'Things are moving well and we are making useful progress,' he said.
'We have made a renewed bid for the player and are hopeful we can bring things to a successful conclusion in the next few days - that is certainly our intention.
'We believe Ronaldinho wants to come to Old Trafford and that has been a motivating factor for us in pursuing him.
'It's now a question of reaching agreement with PSG but we are hopeful that will be done sooner rather than later.'
Real Madrid's interest in the 23-year-old was discontinued last week while Barcelona yesterday admitted they would be unable to match United's offer to PSG.