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Last updated: 27th August 2007
Ronaldinho: uncertain future
Although Ronaldinho has said that he wants to stay and make this his very best season, if Barcelona were to receive a very big offer I think they would sell.
Graham Hunter
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Graham Hunter told Sky Sports News that it is unlikely that Chelsea will sign Ronaldinho before the end of the transfer window.
Sky Sports' man in Spain, Hunter, has followed this story closely.
"I think the English papers are probably playing catch-up to Sky Sports - this is something that we have been pointing out for months on Sky Sports News and on Revista de la Liga," he said.
"Chelsea have always wanted Ronaldinho - Roman Abramovich made him his first target and offered to Jose Mourinho to buy out Ronaldinho's clause.
"Mourinho said 'no' and the reason this story has come back again is that the transfer window is still open for a couple of days and Barcelona need money to buy Dani Alves from Sevilla."
Hunter is surprised that the 2004 and 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year has not sorted out his future.
"I remember sitting down with Joan Laporta, the president of Barcelona, about a year ago and saying to him 'why haven't you offered Ronaldinho a new contract?' He said that they would be having a Board meeting to arrange and offer him a contract that week.
"A year on, that still hasn't happened. That has left Roberto de Asis Moriera, Ronaldinho's brother and advisor, a little bit confused about his future.
Complicated
"Although Ronaldinho has said that he wants to stay and make this his very best season, if Barcelona were to receive a very big offer I think they would sell.
"There are doubts whether Ronaldinho has recovered his full physical capacity of two years ago - he looked over-weight last season. And Barca desperately want to buy Alves.
"It is such a complicated and expensive deal, to cram it into what's left of the transfer window will be difficult."
