City fly in as race for Ronaldinho gets hotter: Barca want Brazilian star to join the Blues

Chairman Thaksin Shinawatra's chief negotiator Pairoj Piempongsant led a delegation for meetings with Barcelona president Joan Laporta and for fresh talks with the Brazilian star himself.

Beijing-bound: Ronaldinho (left) jogs past physical trainer Paulo Paixao during Brazil's training session for the Olympics

However, AC Milan responded by increasing their offer to £15million yesterday and had their own talks with Barcelona.

Ronaldinho's brother and agent Roberto de Assis emerged from a meeting with Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani to say: 'It couldn't have gone better. Whether a deal will be done tonight though, we'll have to see.'

Yet City's £22m offer - exclusively revealed in Sportsmail - has been accepted by the Spaniards and City's wage offer is more than double the Italian one. Only the lure of Milan's status is keeping them in the hunt with the player still preferring the San Siro.

After spending £65m this summer, Laporta is under pressure to accept the City offer and has asked Ronaldinho, 28, to take two or three days to consider it - telling the Brazilian it would be better for him and Barcelona if he chose Manchester.

Laporta confirmed last night: 'Ronaldinho and his agent have two interesting proposals and they are leaning more towards the one from Manchester City. We hope to have this resolved by the weekend.'

And Spanish radio reported: 'A deal for Manchester City could be completed in days. Milan must act quickly if they are still serious.'

Piempongsant has had four meetings with De Assis, who has also met Thaksin in Thailand. City, who open their season against Eb/Stremur, of the Faroes, on Thursday, are saying nothing until the contract has been signed but have put their commercial department on alert for the explosion of interest the player's arrival would ignite.

Talks: Barcelona's Ronaldinho speaks on the phone while leaving a hotel in Barcelona

A four-year deal is expected with wages of around £200,000 a week, partly supported by sponsors.

A City source said: 'If this happens, can anyone question the ambition of the owner now. First Mark Hughes, then Jo and now the very serious prospect of Ronaldinho.'

Thaksin told Sportsmail last month: 'He is a great player. Whatever your club, you would want to see this player in England. I am hearing good things about his hunger. The magic is still in his boots. But you need a player who is about more than winning the match and Ronaldinho can achieve so much more for the club.'

Ronaldinho returned to Spain last night after an intensive fitness campaign left him looking trim. He will play in the Beijing Olympics as an over-aged player - a stumbling block for Milan - and did not show for the first day of Barcelona's pre-season yesterday.

Barcelona believe that Alexander Hleb will join them by the weekend for £15m from Arsenal and may yet return for Emmanuel Adebayor.