....And let’s be honest, how many times have we seen certain players agents talk to other clubs quite publicly (You know, meet in hotels near the FA – that sort of thing!  ;-)) in order to get a pay rise?

So why now then?  Well, John Terry commented on the reports today, next, a wise owl off the official Chelsea site has told us that the lucrative 5 year tax break that new foreign players get when they sign for Spanish clubs is coming to an end for Ronaldinho, and then of course, despite the magnitude of the story, Chelsea FC still haven’t denied meeting with the agent…..so I thought….Why not!

Here goes then…….

Roman Abramovich has met twice with Ronaldinho´s brother and agent, Roberto de Assis Moreira, during the entire last weekend in London at his house in Knightsbridge.  Apparently Abramovich put Moreira up at the exclusive Lanesborough Hotel in Mayfair, after flying him in on his private jet.

Now, if true, this is technically “tapping up” isn’t it? However, we should bear in mind clubs on the continent aren’t so “pedantic” as their English counterparts and according to “sources at Chelsea” (i.e. Ethel, the tea lady), they insist that the approach came from Ronaldinho (or at least his wily brother, who, by the way, has negotiated new deals for Ronaldinho with Barcelona nearly every season that he’s been there!).

Moreira flew back to Spain after his weekend of petit fors with Abramovich, to discuss Chelsea’s offer with his brother. We should note also that Ronaldinho´s brother has a lot of influence over him.  When Ronaldinho won FIFA's World Player of the Year award in December 2005, he paid tribute to his brother.

"He's my idol. He's been through a lot and has helped me every step of the way."

So how much are talking about then?  Well, reports vary from 40-50M transfer fee despite there being an 85M quid buy-out clause,  and then anything from 150,000 – 200,000 quid a week wages (how much would we have to pay him so that after tax he still gets more than what he’s on at Barcelona?).

Some say that the quartet of Ronaldinho, Messi, Etoó and Henry are “too difficult to manage” for Rijkaard but what might be nearer the truth is that Barcelona have debts of 160M, a massive wage bill with “four” too many on the books and lastly, the club-s recent refusal to extend Ronaldinho´s contract from 2010 to 2012.

Real Madrid are also anxious to sign the Sevilla right-back/winger (but they haven’t got any money either have they?) and we know full well how much either club loves to get one over on the other.

As I said earlier, John Terry has come out and stoked the fire a bit:

"It was exciting. I've seen the coverage.  To get a player of that ability would be a great acquisition. I've seen him, seen what he's all about and he's a very difficult player to mark.

"If he did come he would give us that option up front and it'd be great for the Premiership to get the likes of Ronaldinho. For me personally, Chelsea and everyone at the club it would be great."

"We've got wide-men who go forward but they've got defensive responsibilities as well.  We've seen at times that Jose Mourinho has taken Shaun Wright-Phillips or Joe Cole off because they've not been doing their defensive duties. It takes players a month or so to learn that and if you don't do it then you come off.

"He (Ronaldinho) can give us something that not many in the world can give us. If he's doing it going forward then I'm sure the manager will let him off a little bit."

So, John Terry wants him in the side (no surprises there!) but old “Ronnie” would have to do his fair share of the leg-work. 

Now, Mourinho has already announced that his squad is closed:

"I have closed the door of my dressing room and that's very important to me.  My squad is completely closed. I know the market is open until the 31st - but not for us."  

….but let’s be honest, if we still want Alves, Mourinho can’t really give the game away too much by stating the contrary can he?  Then of course, there´s the question of how Mourinho would fit Ronaldinho into the team – especially now that we have Florent Malouda who also prefers to play on the left side of attack. 

Well, sorry!  If you sign Ronaldinho you FIND a way of fitting everyone in don’t you (!!!) and if anyone can make it work then Mourinho can.

Barcelona's sporting director, Txiki Beguiristain, has come out and spouted out his tuppence worth, stoutly denying that any such move could take place:

"Any big European club would want Ronaldinho but he is ours and there is no chance of him leaving.  Honestly, not even Chelsea have the kind of money that can match the value we put on Ronaldinho. He is the symbol of the club and it is therefore impossible to sell him.

"It would be sporting suicide to do it now. To help a big Champions League rival like Chelsea would be total madness. If the agent has travelled to London that is not important to me."  

However, another director of Barcelona has apparently briefed the Spanish media, stating that one of the 'big four' will have to leave before Friday for a fee of around “70 million euros'”.

So there you go then!

In my opinion, I just don’t see it happening (then again, I never thought we’d get Gullit or Vialli when we did) and I’m sure this is Ronaldinho´s brother attempting to gain another pay rise. 

Fair enough, Barcelona do have a slight “overcrowding” of super-flair players on high wages but losing Ronaldinho would surely dent their title and European hopes?  Messi is a bit injury prone sometimes isn’t he?....and Etoó tends to blow a bit hot and cold – if he’s in a mood he can throw his toys out the pram on the field a bit.  They need to keep them surely?

So why are we talking to Ronaldinho´s brother in the first place?   Well, we can’t really lose can we?  If it comes off, we get Ronaldinho and if it doesn’t the relationship between a star player and one of our competitors is damaged – plus they won’t have much money to spend before midnight Friday would they?

Personally, I’d prefer to sign Alves….whilst also throwing in Quaresema from Porto to help get rid of this hollow feeling I get in my stomach when I see Robben in a Real Madrid shirt (Don’t want much do I?!!!)

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