Milan open talks with Barcelona for £15m Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho appeared to move a step closer to a £15m move to AC Milan last night when it was reported that the Barcelona striker's agent had met with high-ranking officials from both clubs.

The player's representative and brother, Roberto de Assis, is understood to have met with Barcelona's Sporting Director Txiki Begiristain and Milan representative Ernesto Bronzetti in a Barcelona hotel yesterday.

This season Ronaldinho has managed just 13 appearances, and only this week a high ranking Barça official claimed he was deliberately being separated from the rest of the squad because of his off-the-field conduct.

Referring to unnamed players, Xavier Sala Martí* said: "For many weeks now they have been exiled and we disguise it as injuries and the like, but these players are ostracised and there is an effort to keep them away from the rest of the team."