Talk of divorce hangs over Nou Camp

BARCELONA – Talk of divorce hung heavy in the Spanish air Tuesday with Ronaldinho’s forecast split from Barcelona filling the back pages.

Fuelled by reports from London that Chelsea were preparing to table a 70 million euro bid for the out-of-sorts Brazil striker, newspapers here predicted separation would come sooner rather than later. Spanish media claim Barcelona are fed up with the 2005 Footballer of the Year’s poor form while the player himself has grown tired of the repeated attacks on his private life.He has kept a distinctly low profile since being accused of late night binges before games five days ago with the official line being that he’s recovering from a muscle problem which kept him out of Barca’s game against Sevilla last Saturday.Absent from training on Monday he is certain to miss Barcelona’s match against Real Zaragoza on Wednesday.Barca president Joan Laporta declared on Monday that they needed “to help (Ronaldinho) to regain his best form so that he doesn’t feel isolated”.Laporte insisted that he had not yet “received any firm offers” for the star forward, whether from AC Milan or Chelsea.That conciliatory tone set by the Barca boss contrasted with the “ultimatum” reportedly issued to Ronaldinho by his Catalan employees.According to sports daily Marca he was told: “If you don’t change you’ll find yourself on the street.”Marca on Tuesday declared “there was no doubt” that the club would sell one of the jewels in its crown at the end of the season or during the winter transfer window.The 27-year-old forward’s brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, commenting on the growing rift on Monday, told The Sun newspaper: “I’m sure that a campaign exists against Ronaldinho.”He is doing everything he can in order to return to his very best and soon he will see the fruits of his hard work.He will be at a high level again soon.”I have read many absurd stories about his nightlife and I do not want to comment on them.Ronaldinho still has four years on his contract at Barcelona and he is calm.”Despite being jeered by fans in the Nou Camp, criticised by former Barca star Johann Cruyff, and sidelined by coach Frank Rijkaard, Ronaldinho can still count on the support of his teammates.Lionel Messi dedicated his two-goal haul against Sevilla to him on Saturday while Italian defender Gianluca Zambrotta insisted there was nothing wrong with having a drink 48 hours before kick-off as Ronaldinho is supposed to have done recently.Ronaldinho joined Barcelona in 2003 and his silky skills have helped them to two league titles and the Champions League in 2006.Nampa-AFPSpanish media claim Barcelona are fed up with the 2005 Footballer of the Year’s poor form while the player himself has grown tired of the repeated attacks on his private life.He has kept a distinctly low profile since being accused of late night binges before games five days ago with the official line being that he’s recovering from a muscle problem which kept him out of Barca’s game against Sevilla last Saturday.Absent from training on Monday he is certain to miss Barcelona’s match against Real Zaragoza on Wednesday.Barca president Joan Laporta declared on Monday that they needed “to help (Ronaldinho) to regain his best form so that he doesn’t feel isolated”.Laporte insisted that he had not yet “received any firm offers” for the star forward, whether from AC Milan or Chelsea.That conciliatory tone set by the Barca boss contrasted with the “ultimatum” reportedly issued to Ronaldinho by his Catalan employees.According to sports daily Marca he was told: “If you don’t change you’ll find yourself on the street.”Marca on Tuesday declared “there was no doubt” that the club would sell one of the jewels in its crown at the end of the season or during the winter transfer window.The 27-year-old forward’s brother and agent, Roberto de Assis, commenting on the growing rift on Monday, told The Sun newspaper: “I’m sure that a campaign exists against Ronaldinho.”He is doing everything he can in order to return to his very best and soon he will see the fruits of his hard work.He will be at a high level again soon.”I have read many absurd stories about his nightlife and I do not want to comment on them.Ronaldinho still has four years on his contract at Barcelona and he is calm.”Despite being jeered by fans in the Nou Camp, criticised by former Barca star Johann Cruyff, and sidelined by coach Frank Rijkaard, Ronaldinho can still count on the support of his teammates.Lionel Messi dedicated his two-goal haul against Sevilla to him on Saturday while Italian defender Gianluca Zambrotta insisted there was nothing wrong with having a drink 48 hours before kick-off as Ronaldinho is supposed to have done recently.Ronaldinho joined Barcelona in 2003 and his silky skills have helped them to two league titles and the Champions League in 2006.Nampa-AFP