Ronaldinho saga takes another late twist

The future of Ronaldinho is set to be decided in the next 48 hours as Barcelona made a late bid to snatch the 23-year-old Brazilian…

The future of Ronaldinho is set to be decided in the next 48 hours as Barcelona made a late bid to snatch the 23-year-old Brazilian World Cup winner from under the noses of Manchester United.

The Brazilian star is due to return for pre-season training with current club Paris St Germain tomorrow - and a meeting has been set up with the team's new president Francis Graille.

The player's brother and agent Roberto Assis said this evening: "What is clear that we have a meeting with the PSG president in the morning and we will discuss it in the day with the interested clubs.

"I have not spoken to Real Madrid but I have spoken to Barcelona and to Manchester United."

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He could not confirm reports in Paris that Barca president Joan Laporta had submitted a new €30 million bid to sign the player from under the noses of United - who look to be favourites to land the player.

Assis who has been his brother's guardian since their father died when he was a boy, said: "I have heard PSG have received an offer from Barcelona but I can not confirm it."

Earlier today Real Madrid president Florentino Perez had appeared to retreat from the battle to sign the Brazilian - although he would only say that the player would not join the club this year.

He said: "The question of signings for next season is now closed.

"Yesterday we finished the signing of (Gabriel) Milito and with that we have now completed the four central defenders the club needs.

"For that reason Ronaldinho will not come to Real Madrid this year."

However, it has been reported previously that a deal could be struck to bring Ronaldinho to the Bernabeu next year, allowing him to stay with PSG for another year.

That deal, which might also include a down payment, could be attractive to Graille and incoming PSG coach Vahid Halilhodzic - who had vowed not to sell the player when they took charge in June but have now admitted that the club's financial situation is worse than they had thought when they made the pledge to keep a player who is contracted until 2006.