Ronaldinho Set for Italy Not City

Manchester City's four-month pursuit of Ronaldinho is in danger of being hijacked by Milan, with the Brazilian said to be "90%" certain to choose the Serie A side rather than move to the Premier League.

City will continue their attempts to lure the former world player of the year with a contract that would make him the highest-paid footballer in England but his brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, confirmed last night that Italy was the more likely destination. "It is true," he told TeleLombardia. "He is likely to go to Milan. Everything is ready for the transfer. It is 90% and we are heading in this direction."

That would be a cruel setback to City after devoting so much time and effort to convincing Ronaldinho that his presence, together with Thaksin Shinawatra's money, could help City win the league championship in the next five years.

Garry Cook, City's new executive chairman, has already agreed a provisional fee with Barcelona and although he is aware of the interest from Milan and possibly Chelsea - "I can't imagine they are sitting back watching us try to sign a great player," he acknowledged - he remains optimistic. "Barcelona have made it quite clear what the figure is and we have made it clear what we want to spend. We are ticking all the boxes and at some juncture we hope somebody is going to be able to say to us, OK, it's a goer."

Cook believes City will soon be in a position to "give the other top clubs good reason to be concerned". Ronaldinho, in turn, has led City to believe he is genuinely interested and, contrary to the popular perception of a player in decline, that he can still cut it at the highest level for at least six more years.

"He has made it very clear to us that he wants to lead out the Brazil team in the 2014 World Cup," said Cook. "He wants to play football, he would like to play in the Premier League and he wants to play for a big club. And we tick the boxes. This is a big club in a big league.

"I don't know why we have to keep defending ourselves against the question of why would he want to go to Man City? There is no hiding the fact that success for this club is imminent. It is not a case of if but a case of when. Dr Thaksin has been a major benefactor and when you have someone like that you are on a fast track."

Nonetheless Cook has set an unspecified deadline to avoid the talks dragging on until the transfer window closes at the end of August. "We're not going to sit and wait. This is too big a football club."