UK Sport

Guardian columnist Simon Hattenstone has had enough of Manchester City - the team which he has supported since childhood.

The reason? Well, it’s a multitude, but they coalesce into the person of Thai owner Thaksin Shinawatra. The final straw has been Ronaldinho’s touted arrival at Eastlands after Sven Goran Eriksson’s long-touted goodbye to the Blues.

The idea of Ronaldinho arriving to play for your club would delight most fans, but Hattenstone has had enough of what he sees as his club becoming a PR plaything for Shinawatra, who faces corruption charges in Thailand.

Ronaldinho’s wages are being quoted at £200,000-a-week. But, he would be marketable - should he arrive in Manchester the club will almost certainly find their first game of the season live on Sky, with many more to follow, and the great man is someone who fans will pay to watch, no-doubt boosting match day income at Eastlands.   

Chelsea are now also said to be chasing the Brazilian, who has been out of favour at Barcelona with allegations of party going and not bothering to attend training tarnishing his reputation. 

With the man formerly known as the greatest player in the world possibly on his way, the fate of the player with the greater current claim to that title is still in the balance.

Portugal are enjoying their Euro 2008, or they were.

Journalists from Portugal had complained about the obsession with Ronaldo and Real Madrid from Spanish and British hacks. That obsession was stopped in its tracks with the announcement that the team’s coach former World Cup winner Luiz Felipe Scolari will be off to Chelsea when the summer’s over.

At least it’s taken the focus off the dazzling Manchester United, for now.

Manchester United have complained to FIFA about Real Madrid’s conduct in their public wooing of their top goal scorer.

What’s the betting there’ll be no Rons in Manchester come the start of next season?  

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