Ronaldinho Available for £60m
For just £60m, Roman Abramovich and his henchmen could buy the world's best player, according to Barcelona's vice-president. But they don't want him to leave at all. Honest.
Barcelona's Ronaldinho could be prised away from the Nou Camp by a world record offer, despite being the world's best player, according to Barcelona's vice-president.
The Brazilian playmaker provided the inspiration for another victory on Sunday, 4-1 over Espanyol, which has continued the club's resurgence and kept their slim title hopes alive.
Speaking at a business lunch in the Catalan capital, however, Sandro Rosell admitted that the club's biggest asset could be prised away.
"The club and the player have made it very clear that they must continue together," Rosell said.
"We have to fight to keep the player but if someone comes in with the money to pay his transfer clause (£60m), then it will be a personal decision.
"From a business point of view, perhaps the decision would be different but I believe he must stay."
Chelsea, backed by the billions of pounds of Russian owner Roman Abramovich, would appear to have the financial might to make an offer, while Real Madrid - should they be willing to sell of some of their galacticos like Ronaldo or Luis Figo - might be able to raise the money to table a bid.
"I don't believe that there is any doubt, he is going to stay," said Rosell, the former head of Nike in South America, who was vital in encouraging the star to move to Barcelona.
"Only he knows the performance that he will be able to give; only he knows his possibilities and limits. What is certain is that nobody could have predicted the impact that he has had."
Rosell added: "He has surprised us all and I believe that without any doubt, he is the best player in the world."
Last week, Barcelona president Joan Laporta also said that Ronaldinho could be targeted for a transfer by Europe's richest clubs, even though he added the Catalan club had no intention of selling.
While Laporta said his club hadn't received any bids for Ronaldinho so far, he said he didn't rule out offers from "a Russian oil tycoon" - an apparent reference to Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich - or "an Arab sheik".
The Brazilian playmaker provided the inspiration for another victory on Sunday, 4-1 over Espanyol, which has continued the club's resurgence and kept their slim title hopes alive.
Speaking at a business lunch in the Catalan capital, however, Sandro Rosell admitted that the club's biggest asset could be prised away.
"The club and the player have made it very clear that they must continue together," Rosell said.
"We have to fight to keep the player but if someone comes in with the money to pay his transfer clause (£60m), then it will be a personal decision.
"From a business point of view, perhaps the decision would be different but I believe he must stay."
Chelsea, backed by the billions of pounds of Russian owner Roman Abramovich, would appear to have the financial might to make an offer, while Real Madrid - should they be willing to sell of some of their galacticos like Ronaldo or Luis Figo - might be able to raise the money to table a bid.
"I don't believe that there is any doubt, he is going to stay," said Rosell, the former head of Nike in South America, who was vital in encouraging the star to move to Barcelona.
"Only he knows the performance that he will be able to give; only he knows his possibilities and limits. What is certain is that nobody could have predicted the impact that he has had."
Rosell added: "He has surprised us all and I believe that without any doubt, he is the best player in the world."
Last week, Barcelona president Joan Laporta also said that Ronaldinho could be targeted for a transfer by Europe's richest clubs, even though he added the Catalan club had no intention of selling.
While Laporta said his club hadn't received any bids for Ronaldinho so far, he said he didn't rule out offers from "a Russian oil tycoon" - an apparent reference to Chelsea's owner Roman Abramovich - or "an Arab sheik".
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