Milan snubs Ronaldinho, eyes Flamini

BEIJING, May 6 -- Ronaldinho is not needed at AC Milan, club owner Silvio Berlusconi said on Sunday, but Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini should sign a four-year-deal with the club.

Milan had agreed personal terms with Ronaldinho's agent but has said Barcelona's price tag of 40 million euros (62 million U.S. dollars) for the Brazil forward is too much.

Its pursuit of Ronaldinho intensified during Berlusconi's recent election campaign, where he won a third term as Italian prime minister, but now Milan's interest has cooled.

"I have always been doubtful over whether Ronaldinho is needed, at this point I really think we don't need him," Berlusconi told reporters as he left the San Siro after Milan beat derby rival Inter 2-1.

Milan's victory moved it up to fourth spot in the Italian Serie A, the final Champions League qualifying place, and meant Inter will have to wait another week for a victory which would seal a third successive Italian title.

Frenchman Flamini, soon out of contract at Arsenal and also courted by Juventus, was expected in Milan later yesterday.

"If he passes the medical, tomorrow he will be a Milan player. Players want to come to Milan, of this there is no doubt," Milan chief executive Adriano Galliani told reporters, adding later that Flamini would sign a four-year contract.

In Serie A action, second-placed AS Roma won 3-0 at Sampdoria, while Fiorentina lost 1-2 at Cagliari.

At the other end of the table, bottom side Livorno is close to the drop after Atalanta's Simone Padoin netted late on to snatch a 3-2 win.

Parma is third from bottom with 34 points after Cristiano Lucarelli's header secured a 1-0 win over Genoa.

(Source: Shanghai Daily/Agencies)