Rovers quash Ronaldinho rumours

Blackburn Rovers have denied any interest in Ronaldinho despite earlier announcing they had offered the AC Milan star a two-year deal.

Rovers’ new owners Venky’s set one of the more intriguing stories of the days-old January transfer window into motion by claiming on their Facebook and Twitter accounts that they had made an approach to Ronaldinho.

The Brazil international, who has six months left on his contract at AC Milan, is all but certain to leave the San Siro in January after departing Milan’s training camp to Dubai to negotiate a new deal elsewhere.

Ronaldinho’s brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, provided further fuel for the growing speculation by telling the Daily Mirror he had been in talks with the Premier League club, saying: “Blackburn have contacted us. There is also other interest in England but this is confidential.”

But Venky’s chairman Venkatesh Rao has moved to quash the reports, saying Ronaldinho is most definitely not moving to Ewood Park.

“That is not true. There is no interest at all, they are just rumours,” Rao told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“We are still finalising possible signings but hopefully we can come out into the press and make things clearer in a week. Discussions are still going on and meetings are going on.”

Venky’s have reportedly offered manager Steve Kean a sizeable transfer kitty as they look to make an immediate impression on the club they purchased in November.

“Money is not the criteria at all though, we do not mind about the money,” Rao said.

“It is about getting the right players for Blackburn Rovers and we have enough money to do that.”

“That is not a problem. We want to bring quality to Blackburn Rovers.”

Ronaldinho is also reportedly in talks with Brazilian club Gremio.