Milan close in on Ronaldinho

Italian giants AC Milan are in pole position to secure the double signing of Brazilian wonderkid Ronaldinho from Gremio and Juan Antonio Riquelme from Argentine champions Boca Juniors.

Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani is currently in South America to seal a deal that will bring both striker Ronaldinho and midfielder Riquelme to the San Siro.

Ronaldinho’s contract with Gremio is due to expire in February next year and the club must sell the player now or risk losing him on a free transfer.

Riquelme, for his part, impressed Milan in Boca's victory over Real Madrid in the Intercontinental Cup in Tokyo earlier this month. The Italian side are now favourites to sign him as Barcelona's interest in the player has waned.

Ronaldinho, who shot to fame when Brazil lifted the Under-17 World Championship in 1997, has scored seven goals in his past six matches for Gremio, a team from the southern Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul.

French giants Paris Saint-Germain considered bidding for the Brazilian prodigy - especially as the player had revealed his love for the French capital - but were put off by the £35 million asking price.

The Gaucho club are aware that Flamengo recently lost out when defender Athirson went to Juventus on a free transfer because the Rio side had failed to tie him to a new contract.