Ronaldinho snubs Chelsea
Brazil star Ronaldinho could now cost a staggering £100m
Barcelona star Ronaldinho has claimed he turned down a £55m offer from Chelsea to commit to the Catalan club.The Brazilian playmaker, 24, agreed a new contract with Barcelona last week.
"You know why I didn't go to Chelsea even though they offered more than £55m, because I love football and to play it attractively," he said.
However, Chelsea have denied making any formal approach. "No formal offer was made to Barcelona or to Ronaldinho over a transfer," said a statement.
The Spanish giants have reportedly upped Ronaldinho's yearly salary from £2.5m to £3.3m in a deal that will keep him at the Nou Camp until 2008.
Ronaldinho's buy-out clause is also believed to have increased from £66m to £100m - Real Madrid's £45m purchase of Zinedine Zidane is the current record.
"We are very satisfied with the agreement," president Joan Laporta added on the club's official website.
Ronaldinho used our 'supposed interest' as the opportunity to jack up his wages from Barcalona
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"Ronaldinho deserves it and we had to make this extra effort for him as much for the human qualities he has demonstrated this season as for his sporting achievements.
"Ronaldinho is going to mark a new era at this club."
The World Cup winner, who joined last summer from French side Paris St Germain for £21m, inspired a revival in Barcelona's fortunes in the second half of last season.
He scored 22 goals in all competitions as the Catalan outfit finished runners-up in the Primera Liga and qualified for next season's Champions League.
Brazil star Ronaldinho could now cost a staggering £100m
Barcelona star Ronaldinho has claimed he turned down a £55m offer from Chelsea to commit to the Catalan club.The Brazilian playmaker, 24, agreed a new contract with Barcelona last week.
"You know why I didn't go to Chelsea even though they offered more than £55m, because I love football and to play it attractively," he said.
However, Chelsea have denied making any formal approach. "No formal offer was made to Barcelona or to Ronaldinho over a transfer," said a statement.
The Spanish giants have reportedly upped Ronaldinho's yearly salary from £2.5m to £3.3m in a deal that will keep him at the Nou Camp until 2008.
Ronaldinho's buy-out clause is also believed to have increased from £66m to £100m - Real Madrid's £45m purchase of Zinedine Zidane is the current record.
"We are very satisfied with the agreement," president Joan Laporta added on the club's official website.
Ronaldinho used our 'supposed interest' as the opportunity to jack up his wages from Barcalona
From Lifelong Blue
Have your say on 606
"Ronaldinho deserves it and we had to make this extra effort for him as much for the human qualities he has demonstrated this season as for his sporting achievements.
"Ronaldinho is going to mark a new era at this club."
The World Cup winner, who joined last summer from French side Paris St Germain for £21m, inspired a revival in Barcelona's fortunes in the second half of last season.
He scored 22 goals in all competitions as the Catalan outfit finished runners-up in the Primera Liga and qualified for next season's Champions League.