RONALDO TO REPLACE RONALDINHO?

Following on from Barca's reps being sat with Ronaldo's agent at Tuesday's Portugal game, from the Guardian:

The Barcelona president Joan Laporta has told the coach Frank Rijkaard and sporting director Txiki Begiristain that the Catalan club must not waste what he called an “unique opportunity” to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United.

Laporta is under the impression that Ronaldo wants a move to the Camp Nou and is adamant that Barcelona have the funds to buy him. He is bullish about a head-to-head fight with Real Madrid but although he has insisted Barcelona must sign Ronaldo come-what-may he has reassured his staff that the departure of Ronaldinho to Milan is not a pre-requisite to capturing the Portuguese winger.

Milan's vice-president Adriano Galliani claims the Italians are in “pole position” to sign an unhappy Ronaldinho in the summer. He has, though, distanced himself from a hostile bid, insisting: “We don't want to do what other clubs are doing. Ronaldinho is under contract with Barcelona and we will negotiate only if Barcelona decide to sell him.”