ARSE WANT RONNY

Last updated : 05 February 2003 By Editor

Arsenal have apparently joined the race to try to get Ronaldinho before United. The Sun reports

Arsenal are planning an £11million hijack of Manchester United's move for Ronaldinho. United boss Alex Ferguson has been tracking the 22-year-old Brazilian superstar for the past six months.

Manager Arsene Wenger is sure he can lure the unpredictable playmaker to Highbury to team up with Brazilian pals Gilberto Silva and Edu.

Ronaldinho, also sent off for a late tackle on Danny Mills in that match, is determined to quit Paris St Germain at the end of the season after a series of bitter bust-ups with strict coach Luis Fernandez.

Roberto Assis, the player's brother and agent, claims both United and Inter have already made contact. Yet he insists no deal is in place.

But the collapse of the international transfer market has reduced his price tag to a more realistic £11m in recent months.

Wenger, who described Ronaldinho as 'a saloon player who does not influence matches', shortly after the striker's arrival in France, now sees him as an ideal successor to Dennis Bergkamp.