Deco tells Ronnie to snub City

Team-mate wants Ronaldinho to join bigger club

By Lucas Brown   Last updated: 17th June 2008

Deco tells Ronnie to snub City

Ronaldinho with Deco

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Deco has stated that he does not want to see Ronaldinho join Manchester City and admitted that he would like to see the pair of them team up again at Chelsea under Luiz Felipe Scolari.

The Portuguese international believes that his current Barcelona team-mate should aim to continue playing at the highest level in Europe.

Ronaldinho is said to have received offers from Manchester City, LA Galaxy and Chelsea, while Milan's interest has cooled, and Deco believes that only the Premier League runners-up can offer him what he deserves.

"With the greatest respect to Manchester City, I would not like to see Ronaldinho go there and play for them," the midfielder told El Mundo Deportivo.

"I still consider Ronaldinho to be one of the best players in the world. He needs a huge team to express himself in, one that plays in the Champions League and aims to win it.

"It would be very good for him to go to a really big club, a team with grand aspirations and that will make him feel like he did at Barca.

"He needs that as a person as much as a player."

Deco has already admitted he is also considering a move to Chelsea and he could see himself playing with Ronaldinho at Stamford Bridge.

"I would like Ronnie to play with me for Chelsea," he continued.

Galaxy offer

Meanwhile, Spanish reports have claimed that LA Galaxy have made Ronaldinho a mega offer to join David Beckham in Major League Soccer

The American outfit are said to have laid a package on the table that would see the Barca star earn around €32million-per-year after tax.

That staggering contract would be split down the middle with Ronaldinho having a €16million playing contract as well as receiving a further €16million for image rights.

After making a profit on the capture of Beckham from Real Madrid, the Galaxy hierarchy believe that they could also do the same with the Blaugrana's fallen idol.

Barcelona are open to the plan after the MLS side also put a bid of €26million to them before going on to outline the deal to the player's brother and agent, Roberto de Assis.

However, Galaxy look set to be left disappointed as Ronaldinho's representatives have made it clear that at 28, the player still believes that he can perform at the top level in European football and is holding out for a Champions League team.

While Ronaldinho remains in Brazil on holiday, there is also the outside chance that he could stay with Barcelona after lengthy talks with incoming boss Pep Guardiola having taken place.