This was the picture that caused so much controversy at the beginning of the 2007/08 campaign for Barcelona’s Ronaldinho as debate weighed in over how much his weight had to do with his dip in form and injuries sustained (appearing in only 13 of 38 matches).

Then it was the alleged power struggle between the player and his coach, Dutchman Frank Rijkaard.

Now his President has admitted the time might have come to part ways with the player that was only two years ago the best in the world.

Joan Laporta had a sit down with Cataln television station TV3 discussing the past season and looking ahead said, “He (Ronaldinho) needs a new challenge. When a cycle finishes it is normal that the most emblematic pieces also come to an end.”

Maybe you should have sold him to AC Milan when personal terms were agreed, Mr. Laporta… And it’s not going to help any when you’re Vice-President is trying to lay the blame in the press.
image via PhotoBucket

Recent news had it as a done deal that Brasilian star Ronaldinho was leaving Barcelona with a deal agreed at AC Milan. Now comes word that this is no longer happening so he is being shopped to other clubs. What clubs lead the pack to sign the former World Player of the Year? Wait for it…

Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspurs

Now I’m not saying anything is wrong with either of these clubs (although I can’t stand City personally)…but to go from Barcelona, to looking to sign with AC Milan and then to end up at City or Spurs..seems like  quite a fall from grace for Ronaldinho.

On a side note, the first game I ever went to in England as a kid was Tottenham v Man City at White Hart Lane. Weird…

According to Forbes Magazine, this guy is worth 9.8 BILLION Dollars and is the WORLD’s 90th richest person.

If there was anyone that could pull of Ronaldinho and his brother/agent Roberto de Assis to Milan, it’s gotta be Silvio Berlusconi right?

I just wonder when the rules of tampering come into play and you’ve got to think that Barcelona can’t be happy about all of this.

image via Schema

So, it’s the BBC and they won’t lie to us, right? It’s his Brother/Agent Roberto de Assis who’s insisting that his brother, Brazil and Barcelona Superstar Ronaldinho has agreed to terms with Serie A giant AC Milan.

Hmm. Still trying to wrap my head around this if it’s true. Seedorf, Gattuso, Pirlo, Kaka and Pato in the same 11 with Ronaldinho?

Did you hear that Gulp in the Champions League?

image via The-Spine

I really want to know what’s going on with Barcelona. Unarguably the most talented team on the planet, but yet they look like they don’t care half the time, they drop way more points than they should, and there are mad rumors coming out that players like Ronaldinho, Deco, Iniesta and Zambrotta could be on their way out.  After the disappointment that the “Galacticos” experienced in Madrid, maybe forming a team that consists almost entirely of world class super stars is just not the way to go.  It works for me on FIFA 08, but it doesn’t seem to work in the real world.