Ronaldinho wants to stay with Barca

MADRID – Ronaldinho intends to remain with Barcelona.

“The rapport with the fans is perfect. I want to stay and they make me feel I should,” the Brazil forward told the Catalan TV3 station late Saturday.Speculation over his future has mounted since Ronaldinho’s brother and agent, Roberto Assis, said recently that AC Milan was the player’s first option if he chose to leave Barcelona.However, the Spanish club’s sports director Aitor “Txiki” Begiristain and vice president Ferran Soriano met with Assis on Saturday and were reportedly assured that Ronaldinho, 27, wanted to complete the remaining three years of his contract.”Ronaldinho’s smile and his soccer demonstrate that he is happy here and he is cared for like all our players,” Begiristain was quoted as saying by sports daily Mundo Deportivo on Sunday.”He’s the best player in the world and wants to stay.”Begiristain added the talks with Assis didn’t cover Ronaldinho’s contract, which is a reported EUR8 million (US$10,7 million) per year.”We didn’t discuss the subject of a possible salary rise because it wasn’t requested.Nor did we talk about a possible contract renewal,” Begiristain said.The two-time FIFA player of the year returned to top form on Saturday, creating both goals in Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Deportivo La Coruna.Barcelona took a three-point lead in the league standings although Sevilla had the chance to draw level again by beating Osasuna later yesterday.Barcelona president Joan Laporta said after the game he hoped Ronaldinho would remain at the club “for many years.””We’re delighted with Ronaldinho and his family.He is an extraordinary person and a reference point for this Barcelona team,” Laporta said.Nampa-API want to stay and they make me feel I should,” the Brazil forward told the Catalan TV3 station late Saturday.Speculation over his future has mounted since Ronaldinho’s brother and agent, Roberto Assis, said recently that AC Milan was the player’s first option if he chose to leave Barcelona.However, the Spanish club’s sports director Aitor “Txiki” Begiristain and vice president Ferran Soriano met with Assis on Saturday and were reportedly assured that Ronaldinho, 27, wanted to complete the remaining three years of his contract.”Ronaldinho’s smile and his soccer demonstrate that he is happy here and he is cared for like all our players,” Begiristain was quoted as saying by sports daily Mundo Deportivo on Sunday.”He’s the best player in the world and wants to stay.”Begiristain added the talks with Assis didn’t cover Ronaldinho’s contract, which is a reported EUR8 million (US$10,7 million) per year.”We didn’t discuss the subject of a possible salary rise because it wasn’t requested.Nor did we talk about a possible contract renewal,” Begiristain said.The two-time FIFA player of the year returned to top form on Saturday, creating both goals in Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Deportivo La Coruna.Barcelona took a three-point lead in the league standings although Sevilla had the chance to draw level again by beating Osasuna later yesterday.Barcelona president Joan Laporta said after the game he hoped Ronaldinho would remain at the club “for many years.””We’re delighted with Ronaldinho and his family.He is an extraordinary person and a reference point for this Barcelona team,” Laporta said.Nampa-AP