Inter Milan joins AC Milan to lure Ronaldinho

Inter owner Massimo Moratti confirmed his club's interest in the Brazil playmaker

Inter Milan has joined AC Milan in trying to sign Ronaldinho from FC Barcelona.

Inter owner Massimo Moratti confirmed his club's interest in the Brazil playmaker on Monday.

"I can say that there's nothing definite yet," Moratti said on Inter's Web site. "I think that Milan wants to bring him aboard, but we too are interested. We'll see.

"We have to evaluate several things before deciding, sounding out Barcelona and those close to the player."

On Saturday, Italian sports daily La Gazzetta dello Sport quoted Ronaldinho's agent and brother, Robert De Assis, as saying that the player was a step closer to leaving Barcelona and joining AC Milan. Ronaldinho, who has been out with a muscle injury since the beginning of April and will likely miss the rest of the season, has a contract at Barcelona through 2010. But he is thought likely to leave at the end of the season after being injured for most of it, and sometimes even benched when fit.

Milan is ready to offer Ronaldinho euro8 million (US$12.7 million) a season until 2012, according to Gazzetta. Italian media have said that Milan may offer Barcelona euro20 million ($US31.6 million) for the player, but could now be drawn into in a bidding war with Inter. Officials from Inter and Barcelona were scheduled to meet Monday, Gazzetta said.