Decision day tomorrow for Milan-Ronaldinho Gremio waiting confidently

The credits haven't rolled yet but the blockbuster starring Ronaldinho in a red and black shirt is definitely coming to an end. Milan have never been overly active in January but that might change in 2011 as Antonio Cassano's contract will be filed with the Italian Football Federation on the 3rd of January and Ronaldinho will probably be going home and ending his career with Gremio in Brazil. This is the most likely result of tomorrow's meeting between the player's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, and Milan managing director Adriano Galliani. They will be thrashing out the financial terms between the Brazilian and Milan, as although the club didn't put the player on the market they are willing to accept that he wants to go. This solution seems to be the preferred one for everyone: Massimiliano Allegri won't have the headache of having to fill his bench with big names every Sunday, the club's coffers will have one less very big salary to pay every month and the Brazilian will be able to chase his dream of playing the last World Cup of his career in his home country.

Ronaldinho with Allegri. Reuters

Everyone in Dubai — Antonio Cassano will be setting off tomorrow afternoon with the rest of the team for the Winter training camp in Dubai where, according to the current plan, Ronaldinho is also expected to arrive in the evening on a flight from San Paolo along with Pato, Thiago Silva and Robinho. Whatever happens, his time with Milan is coming to an end and with another daily does of optimism, Gremio president Paulo Odone repeated his belief that the former Ballon d'Or, who spent the holidays at his Porto Alegre home waiting for his brother and agent Roberto de Assis to reach an agreement with Adriano Galliani, will be joining his club. The Rossonero chairman has already had a fantastic bargain signing a star like Antonio Cassano for just over a million euro, and now he just needs to find the best way to rescind the contract of Silvio Berlusconi's golden boy, who failed to win anything in his two and a half years at Milan and only really shone in the first derby with Inter. So Ronaldinho is out, and Antonio Cassano in, and this should be enough although the number of strikers still doesn't really balance, given that Filippo Inzaghi has already finished his season. To get up to five, they need to add Clarence Seedorf to the team of goal scorers which is why Milan is looking for a midfielder. They may sign the 23-year-old French player Kevin Constant, who plays for the Guinea national squad and is currently to Chievo on loan with an option to buy from Chateauroux, a French second division team. Allegri on the other hand, continues to like Andrea Lazzari, a more difficult option however given that Cagliari president Massimo Cellino had no intention of letting him go.

Ronaldinho with Robinho and Coutinho in the National team. Reuters

Odone is optimistic — Meanwhile, from Brazil the news about the Ronaldinho deal continues to be positive. "I am absolutely sure: Ronaldinho wants to come back to Brazil and play for Gremio, not for money but because he wants to make peace with our fans and rejoin the Brazilian national team." Interviewed by Radio Globo Sao PauloGremio president Paulo Odone repeated that he is sure the former Ballon d'Or, currently a Milan player, will be coming to Porto Alegre. "Negotiations with Ronaldinho and his brother Assis are at a good stage" Odone said. "Now all that's missing is the agreement with Milan. We have already agreed his fee and the fact that we will be offering the player a four-year contract. Ronaldinho wants to come back to Brazil, play for the national team and win himself a place in the Brazil World Cup (ed.: 2014). I speak to Assis every day. He was very pleased with our offer, even though Palmeiras and Flamengo were both interested. He will come back to Brazil but not for money (ed.: Palmeiras offered him more): he has a sole purpose in mind, which is to play for Gremio." According to Odone, "it's not just about signing a player, it's a marketing operation that will finance itself." Partners behind the operation include Brazilian company Topper, who will replace Puma as Gremio's technical sponsor. They are counting on the Ronaldinho effect, even if the player has a personal contract with Nike.