Ronny's departure casts a shadow

Dubai: The AC Milan-Al Ahli match at Rashid Stadium on Sunday night played just a small part in the drama that was Ronaldinho's return to Brazil, but Rossoneri-boss Massimiliano Allegri wasn't keen to give it much air-time in the post-match conference.

"At the moment Ronaldinho is in Brazil and he's trying to find an agreement with the club [Gremio], until today he's an AC Milan player."

Confirmed Saturday that the player had left AC Milan's winter-camp in Dubai, having fallen out of favour after the signings of Ibrahimovic, Robinho and Cassano, it became known that rumours speculating about his future were in fact true.

Gremio President Paolo Odone claimed the club has already agreed to terms and Ronaldinho's brother and agent Roberto de Assis only has to secure a release from AC Milan.

Negotiations

But Assis said: "Nothing is decided yet. Everything depends on how these negotiations go. If we don't reach an agreement with a club in Brazil then he will return to Milan, as he is still a Milan player. We are not ruling anything out." But Assis also said: "There are many Brazilian clubs interested in Ronaldinho, but I won't rule out a European move. It seems clear his time with the Rossoneri is at an end."

With a price-tag of £7 million (Dh39.8 million) and a weekly salary demand of £140,000, it's expected many of the Brazilian clubs may fall out but Blackburn, LA Galaxy, Manchester City and Paris Saint Germain make up just a few of the other outfits ready and willing to foot the costs.