Manchester City were close to reaching an agreement with Barcelona last night to sign Ronaldinho for about £22 million, after their long pursuit of the former World Player of the Year. The Brazil forward, who will arrive in Barcelona for preseason training today, has been offered a four-year deal that would make him the highest-paid footballer in England.

Thaksin Shinawatra, the City owner, has said that signing Ronaldinho would be an opportunity to put the club on the map. But, although City are confident of concluding a deal with the Catalan club, Ronaldinho’s arrival is by no means a formality. City fear that news of an impending deal may have been leaked by Ronaldinho’s camp in an attempt to force AC Milan to bid for the player and match the contract offered by the Barclays Premier League club.

Roberto de Assis, the player’s brother and agent, has previously said that Italy was the forward’s more likely destination. Although Milan have offered Ronaldinho a two-year contract, they have made their interest known to Barcelona only via the media – and City remain the only club to have made a serious bid. Barcelona want to sell Ronaldinho to fund the probable transfers of Alexander Hleb, who would cost £12 million, and his Arsenal teammate, Emmanuel Adebayor, the Togo forward.

Ronaldinho’s relationship with Barcelona has deteriorated to the point where he said that he did not want to return to preseason training with the club. Barcelona have also been angered by the player, who has two years left on his contract, making himself available to play for Brazil in the Olympic Games in Beijing next month.

Mark Hughes, the City manager, will meet his board this week before deciding whether to proceed with a bid to sign Brad Friedel from Blackburn Rovers. Friedel, the United States goalkeeper, is a surprising target for City given that 21-year-old Joe Hart excelled in goal last season, but Hughes is pondering the merits of signing the 37-year-old, who has attracted interest from Aston Villa and at least one other Premier League club.

John Williams, the Blackburn chairman, suggested yesterday that Paul Ince, the club’s new manager, was determined to fend off any bids. “Paul’s wish is to start the season with Brad Friedel,” he said.

Friedel approved of Ince’s appointment at Ewood Park, but he could still push for a move to City or Villa. Both clubs are willing to offer him a more lucrative contract, and a year longer, than his present deal at Blackburn, which runs until June 2010. But if Hughes does proceed with a bid, it will be with the intention of Friedel assisting Hart with his development, which earned him a full England debut in the friendly international against Trinidad & Tobago in June.