Magpies make Ronaldinho enquiry
Newcastle want to bring in a world class talent like Ronaldinho
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Sunday, 15, Jul 2007 12:17
Reports claim that new Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley has made an audacious enquiry to Barcelona for former Fifa world player of the year Ronaldinho.
The News of the World claims the United chief wants to bring in a world class talent to show his ambitions for the club but that the Spanish giants turned down the offer.
Ashley was reportedly told it would take £58 million to prize the Brazilian away from the Camp Nou.
"Mike is a billionaire but it remains to be seen whether even he would sanction a deal of that magnitude," said a source.
Ashley recently bought the club for £130 million and has given manager Sam Allardyce funds in order to get the club back into contention for a place in European competition.
The former Bolton manager has thus far looked to strengthen the spine of the team, bringing in striker Mark Viduka, central midfielder Joey Barton and centre-back David Rozenhal.
The Magpies are worried that top strikers Michael Owen and Obafemi Martins could leave St James' Park this summer because of clauses in their contracts.
Ashley and Allardyce have been trying to persuade the pair that the club is progressing in the right direction and that star names will be bought.
The paper also reports that Newcastle will try and land Manchester United full-back Gabriel Heinze on his return from the Copa America.
But they look set to face competition from Liverpool who are also being heavily linked with a £6 million move as Rafael Benitez continues to boost his squad.