Ronaldinho nearing Milan exit

Ronaldinho has moved closer to joining former club Gremio as Antonio Cassano prepares to contribute to AC Milan’s title challenge.

Brazilian forward Ronaldinho has left Milan’s mid-season training camp in Dubai to discuss terms with Gremio, the side where he began his career in 1998.

The 30-year-old joined Milan in 2008, but has struggled to recapture the form that made him one of the world’s best players during a five-year spell at Barcelona.

“He will arrive in Porto Alegre today in order to negotiate with Gremio, but nothing is decided yet,” his agent Roberto De Assis said.

“If we don’t reach an agreement with a club in Brazil, then he will return to Milan, as he is still a Milan player. We are not ruling anything out.”

Flamengo and Palmeiras are also reported to be interested in the two-time FIFA World Player of the Year.

De Assis left the door open for a return to Italy, with a reported eight million euro price-tag looming as a potential obstacle to any transfer.

“There is a great deal of disappointment and I am sorry that we couldn’t get him back to his best,” Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri told Sky Italia.

“Potentially he is the best in the world. I hoped for a great year from him.”

“Maybe there was a lack of willingness on his part.”

Despite effectively giving up on Ronaldinho, Allegri has confidence in new signing Antonio Cassano, who joined Milan after being forced out of Sampdoria following a row with the club’s president.

“Antonio has not trained for two months, but is working well and will soon be in good shape. He should be ready for Cagliari,” Allegri said.

“We are top of the table and can win the Scudetto, as the club has given me a very strong squad.”