Barcelona expect to complete the signing of Br
azilian World Cup-winning midfielder Ronaldinho on a five-year contract later on Saturday after agreeing a fee with his French club Paris St Germain.
PSG president Francis Graille told the French club's website on Saturday:
"I can confirm we have signed an agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of Ronaldo Assis de Moreira, known as Ronaldinho, who will join the Catalan club for the next five seasons."
"However, I do not wish to confirm the size of the transfer fee."
"We really hope we can very quickly reach the end of a transfer which has made a lot of news."
Ronaldinho arrived in Barcelona on Saturday and was in talks at the club's offices.
His brother and agent
Roberto Assis earlier met with Barca president Joan Laporta, vice-president Sandro Rosell and other senior club officials at the Nou Camp.
"I've spoken with the player and he is anxious to sign for Barcelona," said Rosell, who conducted the negotiations with Paris St Germain.
Rosell told Barcelona's website that a deal with the player over a five-year contract was close, but warned that it had not yet been finalised.
Media reports said Barcelona had agreed to pay the French club between 25 million and 30 million euros for Ronaldinho, who was one of the most influential figures in Br
azil's World Cup triumph last year.
If Barcelona get Ronaldinho to put pen to paper on a deal it will be quite a triumph for Laporta, who faced stiff competition from Manchester United for the talented midfielder.
The English champions had appeared set to clinch Ronaldinho's signing earlier this week when manager Alex Ferguson described the deal as
"just about there".
But earlier on Saturday United issued a statement on their official website regarding the negotiations that said:
"In order to bring the talks to a conclusion the club have spoken again with both PSG and the player's representatives."
"Following our final written offer submitted on Friday morning, we have notified all parties that unless an agreement is reached by 1900 CET today (Saturday), Manchester United will withdraw from the process."
Ronaldinho had earlier stated a preference for playing for United but the player is now set to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Romario,
Ronaldo and Rivaldo and become the latest high-profile Br
azilian to play for Barcelona.
Ronaldinho's arrival would see Laporta making good on his promise to bring in at least one
"crack" -- the word used in Spain to describe a world-class player with a media profile to match.
Laporta was helped to victory in Barcelona's recent presidential election by the news that he had agreed a deal with Manchester United to sign
David Beckham.
The England captain opted instead to sign for Real Madrid and Laporta promised to redouble his efforts to sign Ronaldinho.
PSG's Graille acknowledged the appeal of an earlier offer from Real, under which Ronaldinho could have stayed with PSG for one more season before joining the Spanish champions.
"The alternative from Real Madrid, which was put forward orally but which never actually materialised, was a good option for us," Graille said.
"But given the current state of the market and the interests of our club, I think this was the best time for us to sell him all the same."
The Br
azilian will become the fifth signing of the Laporta era if and when his move goes through.
The new president has already signed Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber, Spanish midfielder Luis
Garcia, Mexican centre-back Rafael Marquez and Portuguese winger Ricardo Quaresma.