Ronaldinho snubs City: two-time World Player of the Year joins Milan for £19.8m

The deal was struck at around 10pm after Ronaldinho had reacted angrily earlier in the day to City's attempt to structure his vast salary in a pay-as-you-play deal.

City wanted to withhold at least 50 per cent of his staggering £200,000-aweek wage demands based on his fitness, appearances, goals, commercial activities and their position in the Barclays Premier League.

In the bag: Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani parades with new signing Ronaldinho after the Brazilian spurned City's advances

The deal offered by City stated that if Ronaldinho was fit to play regularly, scored plenty of goals, sold plenty of shirts and helped the club into the top six then he would be paid in full.

However, the two-time World Player of the Year wanted all the money up front and City were not prepared to agree to that. 'Ronaldinho does not do auditions,' said a source close to the Brazilian just before the move was clinched.

'If City are as eager as they say they are, they know the requirements. Or maybe they are not as keen as they would like you to believe.'

Countering the claim, a City insider said: 'Club owner Dr Thaksin is very keen to bring Ronaldinho to the Premier League but he is not foolish. The deal is there for Ronaldinho to be rewarded for being successful.

'There is a challenge for him here, but will he accept the challenge?'

Thaksin Shinawatra warned Ronaldinho's team of advisers about the wage structure when they met in Thailand a month ago - but it seems Ronaldinho may have been using this hurdle as an excuse to back out and gain a permanent transfer to Milan.

Milan matched City's basic offer of £100,000 a week, and less in respect of the transfer fee, but the player felt Milan's heritage was more appealing.

As Sportsmail revealed this week, City followed up an emailed offer of £22million on Sunday - it was accepted by the Spaniards - by sending a delegation to Barcelona to try to complete the audacious signing.

A initial meeting on Monday night involving Thaksin's chief negotiator, Pairoj Piempongsant, and Ronaldinho's brother, Roberto de Assis, went smoothly, but a second discussion with lawyers yesterday did not proceed so well. De Assis returned for another meeting with AC Milan's transfer broker Adriano Galliani, who was later seen with Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Ronaldinho, who has agreed a threeyear contract, is due to arrive in Italy at lunchtime to undergo a medical. His transfer fee will initially be £16.7m, with the rest performance-related.