City's Ronaldinho dream dashed after Brazil star opts to fight for Barca future

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City's Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra was desperate to pull off a major transfer coup by landing Ronaldinho and was believed to be ready to pay him £200,000 a week.

Staying put: Barca striker Ronaldinho is thwarted by Celtic keeper Artur Boruc during a Champions League tie

But the striker has held talks with Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola and assured him that he is ready to clean up his act and fight for his future at the Nou Camp, according to The Daily Mirror.

He was told publicly by new boss Guardiola last week that he - along with Samuel Eto'o and Deco - will not feature unless he stops his partying and returns to the form that saw him become the best player in the world.

Ronaldinho's brother and agent Roberto De Assis is still in dialogue with City but the chances of the deal are fading.

New City boss Mark Hughes is ready to spend £25million on two new strikers - but faces a battle to get rid of his unwanted front men.

City are close to completing the signing of CSKA Moscow's Brazilian striker Jo for £17m and have made an £8m bid for Real Zaragoza's Argentina forward Diego Milito, 29.

But Hughes is finding it hard to get rid of Rolando Bianchi and Georgios Samaras, who cost nearly £15m.