Race on to sign Ronaldinho

(CNN) -- Had the news broken a week earlier, it is fair to assume that news of Manchester City's interest in Ronaldinho would have been dismissed by most football fans as a rather too obvious April Fool's Day prank.

The two-time world footballer of the year's passion for Barcelona may indeed have dimmed after two seasons of underachievement in which his influence and status at Camp Nou has been eclipsed by the Catalans' burgeoning love affair with Lionel Messi.

But the idea of the spurned Brazilian signing on the rebound for Manchester's other club appeared to be the least credible piece of transfer market gossip since David Beckham was first linked with Los Angles Galaxy.

That of course came to pass and, in theory, so too could Ronaldinho's move to the blue half of Manchester.

Under the ownership of the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, City certainly have the resources to meet Ronaldinho's six-figure wage requirements.

And in Sven Goran Eriksson they already have a coach in place to take the club -- currently mid-table in the English Premier League -- on to greater things, though not one whose conservative, Italian-schooled management style would seem an obvious match for Ronaldinho's flamboyant individualism.

More likely however, the story of Ronaldinho's brother, Roberto de Assis Moreira, who also works as his agent, being wined and diner at City's Eastlands home for Saturday's clash with Chelsea, was simply one that was mutually convenient for both parties.

For City, the Ronaldinho link served to publicly advertise their aspirations as a big-spending club with Champions League ambitions just as their supporters are starting to think about renewing their season tickets.

For Ronaldinho, sidelined for the rest of the season by injury, it kept his name in the spotlight in a week when he will be missing from the European stage as Barca face Schalke in the Champions League -- and reminded interested parties that he could be open to offers if the price is right.

By Tuesday of course -- the story having served its purpose -- de Assis Moreira was denying that Ronaldinho intended to go anywhere, describing his trip to Manchester as a "personal matter."

"My work is to form relationships within the world of football," Assis said. "It is normal for me to travel to speak with certain people about personal matters when I believe it to be necessary. He has a contract until 2010 and I'm not looking for anything."

Yet in truth, Ronaldinho may well have played his final game in a Barcelona shirt. Though only 28, assumptions that he is now a player past his prime may only be stemmed by a fresh start at a new club. Already struggling to win a place in the Brazilian side, Ronaldinho sorely needs to impress Brazil coach Carlos Dunga if he is to stand any hope of making the squad for the next World Cup in 2010.

Having enjoyed the best of Ronaldinho, Barca, for their part, would likely be happy to take a fair price for a player they signed for $42 million from Paris Saint Germain almost five years ago before he is able to walk away on a free transfer in 2010.

Though Ronaldinho has been frequently linked with Chelsea in recent seasons, a likelier destination appears to be AC Milan -- themselves seeking to rebuild after a disappointing campaign -- where he would link up with his Brazilian teammate Kaka.

De Assis Moreira, who will obviously travel any distance for a free meal, was also spotted dining last week with Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani. Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti, whose own future is far from secure, has also admitted that the club is monitoring developments in Ronaldinho's situation.

Not that Manchester City should be written off just yet, of course. "It was the first time I had heard such a thing, so I really hope it is true," Eriksson told reporters on Monday when asked about the Ronaldinho connection.

"We would be able to find a place in our team for him, I can guarantee that," he joked. "I will phone the owners. It was a surprise, but if they want to package Ronaldinho for me I would accept him and be very happy -- I would be happy to take Kaka at the same time!" E-mail to a friend